A medley of jazz in all its contemporary, classic, and fluid form arrives in Mumbai with the 2025 edition of NCPA’s International Jazz Festival
Peter Cincotti plays the piano during a live performance. Pic Courtesy/@petercincotti
It was the inimitable Miles Davis who said, “For me, music and life are all about style.” These elements of style, rhythm, swing, and the Blues will be on display as the 14th edition of the National Centre for Performing Arts’ (NCPA) International Jazz Festival opens today.
Diversity is one of the key highlights of the edition’s curation, remarks Farrahnaz Irani, general manager, international music, NCPA. “Jazz has always been an essential strand in its [the city’s] evolving musical tapestry. This year, we are honoured to welcome Peter Cincotti, Brian Bromberg, Nicki Parrott, and the Mike Stern Band to the NCPA. Their musicality, versatility, style and footing in the music world not only enriches our festival but also strengthens Mumbai’s place on the international music map,” she shares.
Nicki Parrott. Pics Courtesy/ooroo Records on YouTube
For Peter Cincotti, the visit to Mumbai will be his first to the Maximum City. Having broken through at the age of 18, the singer-songwriter went on to collaborate with names like Andrea Bocelli, David Guetta and shared the stage with the late Ray Charles. It is the novelty that makes the experience all the more adventurous for Cincotti. “If I am lucky, I hope they can see part of themselves in my music and lyrics,” he says. While playing his cards close to the chest, the New Yorker reveals, “Since the audience is new for me, I will give them highlights from all of my records; and hopefully take them on a journey through time and genres.”
Others, like veteran producer and composer Brian Bromberg are more than familiar with Mumbai, and its musical scene. The Los Angeles-based bassist and producer first visited the city with jazz icon Stan Getz during Mumbai’s iconic Jazz Yatra in 1980. Recalling the moment, he says, “I was only 19-years-old, and had not travelled the world at all. It was a life-changing experience.”
Brian Bromberg (right) plays the cello at a session. Pic Courtesy/Brianbromberg.net
The trip to the city has stayed with him. “Even back then, the people loved the music; it was very cool to see,” he adds. This time around, the producer plans to present ‘more traditional and cool jazz’ with big band swing that is a key feature of his 40-year career. “We will also be playing music that is on the acoustic side. It will still be funky and groovy and will include straight-ahead classic jazz [simple and gimmick-free rhythms, melodies and time signatures],” the LA native elaborates.
Mike Stern (left) and Dennis Chambers during a performance. Pic Courtesy/dennischambers.com
While Bromberg loves the technicality of jazz, Australian-born vocalist Nicki Parrott offers a simpler explanation. “Music has the power to affect our mood quite dramatically. So, I want people to walk away with a smile on their faces,” she says. Having made her mark on Broadway with the musicals, Jekyll & Hyde, and You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Parrott wants to highlight her repertoire of jazz standards. “I like to play and sing a lot of tunes people will know, but I also like to show what the band can do,” she signs off. Mumbai’s jazz geeks are certainly looking forward to it.
Don’t miss
Catch the contemporary dance production, A Million Sitas, that explores the unspoken tale of the women of the epic, Ramayana. Dr Anita Ratnam’s performance draws from the many versions of the epic to express the politics of desire, freedom and identity through the characters of Sita, Ahalya, Mandodari, and Surpanakha in the epic poem.
Dr Anita Ratnam in a moment from a previous show of her production
ON November 23; 5 pm
AT Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point.
LOG ON TO ncpamumbai.com
COST Rs 270, Rs 180 (members); Rs 200, Rs 300 (non-members)
ON November 21 to 23; 6 pm onwards
AT Tata Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point.
LOG ON TO ncpamumbai.com
COST Rs 450 onwards (members); Rs 525 onwards (non-members)
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