Two workshops were held at the Nepal Music Center (NMC), Sinamangal and Rato Bangala School, Patan Dhoka, on October 14 and 15, respectively.[break]
At the Nepal Music Center, the Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory (KJC)introduced jazz to a group of students who were already well versed in music.
During the session, KJC faculty member Marcus Dengate narrated the history of Jazz – from its roots in New Orleans, USA, to the diverse forms it exists in today.
Dengate, Mahesh Tandukar, Rajat Rai, Kismat D Shrestha, Shriti Pradhan, Inap Raj Shrestha, and Yuvash Baidya illustrated developments in Jazz style and history by playing several standard Jazz numbers.
Students from grades 8, 9 and 10 at Rato Bangala School sat for an hour-long presentation on various Jazz styles. The students were introduced to the history of Jazz worldwide as well as in Nepal.
Photo: Surya Nepal Jazzmandu
Live jazz performance as part of the workshop organized by Surya Nepal Jazzmandu at Rato Bangala School, Patan Dhoka on October 15.
Speaking after the event, KJC’s Shanti Gurung said, “These students got to hear the sounds of Jazz live. This is how they start understanding the music more, and wanting to learn. And that is good for them, good for KJC, and good for music in Nepal.”
The Jazz for the Next Generation competition, organized in collaboration with KJC, will also return for the third time at this year’s festival.
The competition will feature young bands playing any variety of improvisational music and will be judged by a panel of visiting international artists.
The best band will get to play alongside established artists on the big stage at the Jazzmandu Bazaar at Gokarna Forest Resort, Gokarna (November 3), while all winning band members and the best individual musician will also receive an hour of private instruction from the visiting artist of their choice.
The event is competitive, but primarily educational, and seeks to give young bands a platform to showcase their talent and gain experience.
A Jazzmandu Master Class will also be held on November 6, at 3pm at Moksh, Jhamsikhel. Music students and Jazz enthusiasts will get a chance to interact with visiting musicians, hear their experiences and stories, and learn their techniques and approaches for creating improvisational music during the Master Class.
Aimed at getting the youth of Kathmndu interested in Jazz music, both the Master Class and the competition will be free and open to the public.
For more details about the festival and complete artists profiles, visit www.jazzmandu.org
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