Slick humor and nostalgia blended perfectly in JAZZ – An English Musical Play, that showcased the Anglo Indian and more specifically the Goan migration to Bombay in the early 1950s to the late 70s. The migration was not only for a better home, but more so for a career in the music industry which was known as Bollywood. This period offered employment opportunities for the talented Goan lad who was well endowed in Western music, more importantly jazz music.

The play is based on research and information supplied by Naresh Fernandes, former editor of TimeOut. His work forms the basis of the story documented into stage and video imagery.

The choice of character portrayed in the play is splendid and keeping with the era when Goan musicians were at their peak. The musical is a fictional story that puts the spotlight on a pupil, played by the very talented Rhys Sebastian D’souza (erstwhile jazz man Sebastian D’Souza’s grandson) who takes up playing the saxophone, learning the finer points from his mentor Bugs Bhargava Krishna. Staged after a gap of seven years (it was staged sometime at the end of November 2007), the play directed by Etienne Coutinho retains its storyline, graced with video projections and impressive images of a bygone era. The rapport with the musician and his student is not only hilarious, the one liners from the women he loved and his band mates will leave you chuckling. The play also provides insight through Rhys’ powerful sax solos of some old time favorite Bollywood hits that were composed or arranged by the migrant Goans. The simple props on a naked stage, put the spotlight perfectly well on the two protagonists who gave an awesome performance. The soft lighting was precise and well suited for the 75 minute set. Though Rhys did not really have much dialogue in the play, it’s in the closing moments where he vents his feelings on his mentor that we get to hear him. A little more strength in delivering those lines, would’ve helped those in the side wings hear him better. But he surely made up for it when he was playing the saxophone.

The connection the Goans as well as Anglo Indians made with Bollywood is unforgettable, working with the likes of Laxmikant-Pyarelal, O.P. Nayar, Madan Mohan, C Ramachander to Shankar Jaikishen and RD Burman. A few Goan musicians even went on to teach a thing or two about music to future music directors, who incorporated whatever was said into their movies. It also gives you pointers on the respect music directors and film directors had for this breed of talented musicians.

Thus you had in this era big names like Anthony Gonsalves, Chic Chocolate, well known as India’s Louis Armstrong, Sebastian D’souza, Mickey Correa making a name for themselves in the film music industry.

JAZZ was well received by an appreciative audience on 13^th April. The one – night - only show ran to a house full at the Experimental Theatre NCPA, Nariman Point. which had the who's who of Mumbai's glitterati, theatre and music world in attendance. It got a standing ovation, with repeated requests of an encore. Rhys the charming lad that he is, readily agreed and played Dave Brubeck’s best selling jazz single Take Five.

The play is an eye-opener that turns back the clock of time on the lives of Mumbai’s early jazz musicians, an era one cannot easily forget, for it was these musicians (among many other Goans) who were the spinal cord in giving a westernized twist to Bollywood.

JAZZ has been recognized as one of the top 10 plays of our country that has received nomination for Best Play, Best Director, Best Original Script and Best Actor.

It is hoped that such plays find the support from not only the audience, but also from corporates who can offer to sponsor such plays and bring Indian Jazz known to everyone. On that note it must be mentioned that support should also come in for keeping alive and not forgetting the Goan language - Konkani and the Goan music.

JAZZ – An English Play

Based on research by Naresh Fernandes

Written by Ramu Ramanathan

Directed by Etienne Coutinho

Produced by Denzil Smith

Music composed by Merlyn D’souza

Cast: Bugs Bhargava Krishna, Rhys Sebastian D’souza

By Verus Ferreira