Rajeev Raja (Concert Flute) is no stranger to the Jazz and fusion fraternity. Considered as one of India’s most exciting flautists, Rajeev enthralls the audiences with a mixture of legato and staccato styles with influences ranging from Jazz to Indian Classical to Rock to Latin. Rajeev Raja, along with an array of stellar Jazz musicians such as Merlin  D'souza (Piano/Keys), Sanjay Divecha (Guitar), Karl Peters (Bass), Ryan Sadri and Rhys Sebastian (Saxophones), Karim Ellaboudi (Piano/Keys) and Ruben Steijn (Drums), recently set the stage on fire performing at the ‘Jazzification’ concert on 22^nd August, 2014 at TATA Theater, NCPA.

While talking about Jazzification, Rajeev Raja said:  “NCPA and Jazz Addicts wanted to promote Jazz to an audience that is not so familiar with the genre. Thus the whole idea behind 'Jazzification' was to make Jazz more palatable to the audience, by 'Jazzifying' popular tunes down the ages. Tunes were created by great bands like the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Doors and many others..”

He further said, “It is our endeavor to popularize Jazz as much as we can, and concerts like 'Jazzification' are just one step in that direction. It brings entertainment and information together and it will be great to go on a 'Jazzification' tour. I am honored to be playing with the cream amongst musicians in Mumbai.”

The six member band performed pop and rock standards of classics such as Bouree by Bach, Norwegian Wood by the Beatles, and even Rolling in the Deep by Adele. Merlin’s take on a Beethoven’s symphony was the icing on the cake. The famous melody by the deaf classical composer, was played to the hilt by D’souza who added her own strains of jazz to make this masterpiece a truly captivating listen. Karim’s seven year -  old son, who played the nursery rhyme Skip to my Lou, a basic formulative piano composition, got wide applause from the music friendly audience. But it was Jack Bruce (of band Cream) and Eric Clapton’s famous guitar jam Best Damn Fool (similar to Clapton’s superhit Cocaine) that was well appreciated. Even though the added jazz effect marred the track a bit, it was excused after all we were in a jazz show and surely many wouldn’t mind.

Rajeev’s opening bars on Led Zep’s Stairway to Heaven got a fab touch of instrumentation with the smooth flute giving off a soothing effect. The two saxophonists accompanying on the final bars of the song, only added to the musical jamboree of the beautiful melody. Being an instrumental jazz set, it would’ve been nice to hear Light my Fire move the way it was created by the Doors, with the band members chipping in their jazz interpretations in the song, rather moving out of it and then bringing it back again for the chorus. Nevertheless, the song brought in sweet memories of Jim Morrison. Flautist Rajeev who came in at the chorus gave the track a good pitch, though the flute could've remained throughout the song. The rendition was still one of the best of the evening, no doubt. Somewhere over the Rainbow was a welcome melody played solo by guitarist Divecha. Just the sound of the guitar in an almost packed NCPA auditorium, proved that all eyes were transfixed on the magic wizard. It brought memories of bluesmen Clapton and Hendrix who also performed such standards.

The concert presented a medley of heart throbbing classics that created a nostalgic euphoria, but it would’ve been more electrifying had the members jazzified the tunes using the actual song of the bands and musicians. Adele’s Rolling in the Deep, with the majestic saxophonists playing loud and clear, is one fine example of using the song and adding a jazz base to it. This would've got the audience to join in each song too.

Audiences of all eras present at the show grooved to the rhythms and harmonies performed in the 'Jazz style'.

-          By Verus Ferreira