Incepted in the year 2012, by three Jazz addicts, Apurva Agarwal, Pradip Bhatia and Sunil Sampat, JazzAddicts is an association of serious jazz enthusiasts, bringing world class international jazz to India since over a decade. JazzAddicts endeavors to bring to India classical and mainstream jazz in its finest form- the likes of Dukes Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Ahmad Jamal, Dave Brubeck and vocalists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.

JazzAddicts identified the need to distinguish classical Jazz form its new derivatives such as fusion, world music, funk and their offshoots, which are closer to the realm of rock and/or pop music. The trio in an attempt to revive the original sounds of Jazz (sounds of foot stomping, swinging Jazz- music to which one can dance and snap one’s finger, has been conducting mainstream jazz events at a phenomenal success rate, year on year!

Their stated policy is to feature only acoustic instruments and not encourage the use of the electric piano and synthesizer, the electric bass, computer automated drum machines, artificially modified electric guitars and other electronic sound. JazzAddicts believe that the electronic sound in jazz has reduced its rich character of sound.

A fine tradition of straight ahead jazz existed in Mumbai and Delhi in the 1970’s and early 1980’s, when the jazz yatra was organized every second year. Somehow, that gave way to the sounds of electronic and the familiar sounds of jazz which we all love were a casualty. Jazz Addicts attempt to reverse that trend and return traditional sound to the Indian Jazz scene.

They expect to invite some of the greatest living jazz musicians perform in India. Besides the annual three- day jazz festival, we also expect to stage several standalone concerts through the year and invite jazz legends like Ahmed Jamal, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins and Benny Golson.

The association of JazzAddicts promises to revive the great sounds of jazz, which has made the music perhaps the most exciting live art form. India having great followers of jazz music, there’s a lack of scope for jazz enthusiasts. Jazz Addicts aim to recreating a platform for jazz, by bringing in international mythology here in India; so that it motivates the Indian jazz tradition.

Looking forward to more news on this great group.