Bridging Cultures Through Jazz

Jazz cuts across languages, cultures and continents, weaving together art and the message of unity with its innovative notes and sophisticated melodies. 

Since 2012, International Jazz Day, celebrated annually on 30 April, has highlighted the power of this musical art form as a force for freedom and creativity, promoting intercultural dialogue through respect and understanding and uniting people from all corners of the globe.
 

This year, the UNESCO South Asia Regional Office in New Delhi, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Alliance Française de Delhi, the Polish Institute, and the Embassy of the Czech Republic, came together to organize an International Jazz Concert at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre. 

From Dutch, French, and Polish musicians to Indian ensembles, the concert featured a diverse lineup of talented performers, offering a dynamic exploration of jazz's rich cultural and musical heritage from around the globe.

The evening featured a performance by 'Soundscapes,' a fusion ensemble comprising Frank Bilsen from the Netherlands, Julien Perez from France, and Karan Chitra Deshmukh and Debasmita Bhattacharya from India, showcasing their fusion of Indian and Western music.
 

Drummer Tarun Balani and guitarist Siddharth Gautam mesmerized with Indian jazz, while Kuba Wójcik and Piotr Damasiewicz brought innovative Polish jazz to the stage.

“Our goal is to transcend the musical and mental boundaries by drawing inspiration from the variety of cultures and environments” said the guitarist, Kuba Wójcik.

The evening wrapped up with a collaborative jam session led by Dhruv Sangari, joined by Sahil Vasudeva, Makrand Sanon, Suhel Saeed Khan, Siraj, and Arina, blending Indian musical heritage with jazz improvisation and innovation.

“It is evident from the event that young Indian musicians are willing to experiment and take risks. If more support and systems can be set up to support this, it has a lot of potential given the incredible talent and history of music India possesses,” said Sahil Vasudeva, on the growing jazz movement in India.

The event also featured a preview of the exhibition ‘From New Orleans to Bombay: The Journey of Jazz in India’, curated by the American Institute of Indian Studies, in collaboration with UNESCO and the India International Centre. This exhibition is open to the public from 1 to 10 May between 11 AM and 7 PM at the India International Centre Annexe in New Delhi. 

Contributed by Shraddha Chauhan (UNIC Intern)