Istituto Italiano di
Cultura di Mumbai, The Royal Opera
House Mumbai, and Avid Learning present Jugalbandi: The Crossing
- An Evening of World Music Fusion
Discover the unique soundscapes when Mediterranean jazz jams with Indian Classical to create soulful symphonies of world music. From the melodies of ragas to the foot-tapping beats of vibraphone, sax, and drums, this musical extravaganza promises to take you on a sonic journey like never before.
Experience the cultural interplay when international jazz
artists perform in conjunction with multifaceted Indian musicians for an
unforgettable concert. An exciting surprise awaits fans as these diversely
talented artists get together on stage for the first time. This performance
also marks the final leg of The Crossing Italian band’s tour
after making waves and delighting audiences in Tokyo and Hong Kong. The
blending of vibrant and eclectic harmonies with pulsating and hypnotic rhythms
will leave you energized and inspired.
Join us for an unforgettable evening of
music, culture, and fusion as we bring together two worlds in perfect harmony.
This is a performance you don't want to miss!
Enzo Favata has played with his projects in many prestigious festivals and stages around the world. In 2019 he created a new project The Crossing: a quartet that moves freely across various musical languages. The band was immediately successful and has plays on various tours in South America, Europe and Asia, giving life to an album awarded by critics and the public.
Read more
Marco Frattini is one of the most respected drummers in Italy. His ability to always keep the beat solid and groovy whatever is the genre or style has had him performing at festivals and clubs with artists such as George Garzone, TrilokGurtu, Randy Bernsen, Javier Girotto, Howard Levy, Karen Asatrian, RossStanley, C'mon Tigre, Ron Gallo, Yazz Ahmed and many many others.
Read more
Giacomo Riggi is an Italian vibraphone and marimba player who graduated in classical percussions with honours in the high musical education Institute P.Mascagni in Livorno with Master Gionata Faralli’s guidance. He also dabbles in singing and composition from “classical” to “jazz” and music for children has travelled the world on tour to Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Romania, France, Spain, Germany, England, Russia among others.
Read more
Bindhumalini Narayanaswamy is a singer and composer. She constantly strives to explore avenues outside of her strict classical roots to play with the pure soul stirring power that music has. won the National Award and Filmfare Award as Best Singer for the songs she created and sang in the film Nathicharami.
Read more
Vedanth Bharadwaj specializes in singing and playing the songs of saint poets from the Bhakti and Sufi traditions at music festivals in India and across the world. He has formally learnt Carnatic, Hindustani and Western Classical music and is currently a disciple of maestro Ramamoorthy Rao.
Read more
Varijashree Venugopal finds her own space and unique language by interspersing different genres of music and merging into various musical cultures, yet retaining the authencity of her musical roots. She has worked as a composer and songwriter spread across a variety of platforms such as playback singing for films, tele soaps, theatre productions, short films, albums, etc.
Read more
Jagadeesh Ramanujam Mudambi is a self-taught guitar player, composer and founder of MoonArra, based in Bengaluru. He is an experienced guitarist performing with pop, rock, jazz and fusion ensembles for three decades. He is also the Director of the Bangalore School of Music, heading the Jazz & Contemporary music department.
Read moreWorld Music
World Music
comprises of music from diverse cultures witnessed in different communities or
people inhabited in various parts of the world. The songs under this category
are mainly composed in native languages rather than English. This music genre
is a representation of the diverse cultures, unique practices, and languages of
non-western countries. Some of the characteristics that distinguish world music
from other genres include the use of handmade and indigenous instruments and
the use of short melodies in vernacular languages. It encompasses a wide
variety of musical genres, including folk, traditional, fusion, experimental,
and popular music.
Carnatic Music
Indian classical
music is broadly divided into two categories of Hindustani music and Carnatic
The word Carnatic is said to have its root in the Sanskrit word “Karnatakam”, which
means pleasing to the ear. Carnatic music is characterized and driven by
Bhakti(devotion) and Melody. The other basic concepts of Indian classical music
include Shruti (pitch), Raga (Melody), and Tala (rhythm). The gamakas
(ornamentation, oscillation of swaras) help distinguish it from other musical
genres. Purandara Dasa formulated its basic lessons and composed thousands of
keertans (devotional songs), becoming known as the grandfather of Carnatic
Music.
Jazz Music
Jazz developed in
the United States during the 20th century in the city of New Orleans. The city
had a diverse population with people from African, French, Caribbean, Italian,
German, Mexican and American Indian cultures interacting with each other. A mix of African- American
musical traditions was seen and gradually jazz emerged from a blend of ragtime,
marches, blues, and other kinds of music. The New Orleans Jazz and
Heritage Festival is a unique
celebration of the city's rich musical heritage and cultural traditions. First
held in 1970, it has expanded to become one of the biggest and most renowned in
the world.
Fusion of Carnatic and Jazz
The blending of
Jazz and Carnatic music is a sort of cultural interchange and collaboration
that unites two separate musical traditions to produce something fresh and
original. Carnatic rhythms and melodies are frequently incorporated into jazz
compositions, and vice versa for jazz harmonies and improvisation in Carnatic
songs. Guitarist Prasanna, Pianist Vijay Iyer, and Saxophonist Rudresh
Mahanthappa are some musicians who have experimented with this mix, fusing
Carnatic ragas and talas with jazz harmonies and improvisation.
The Crossing
In 2020,
non-conformist multi-instrumentalist musician Enzo Favata formed a new band,
for the album, The Crossing. In
Enzo’s words, "I needed jazz musicians with fresh feelings and
compositional methods." With a new ensemble that makes his music appear
even more alive and important, the Sardinian saxophone wizard has an
unquenchable sense of adventure. To interpret new suggestions and new sound
colors, Favata brought Pasquale Mirra to the vibraphone, who is considered one
of the masters of this instrument, and Marco Frattini on drums and the drum
machine.
