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Stories written by Sunil Sampat

The Nationality of Jazz

Sunil Sampat

Recently, a good friend was extolling the virtues of European jazz. “Hey!” I said, “Sure they play some good jazz in Europe but it’s not quite the same as jazz in America”. But it got me thinking.

The Blues Is Where It’s At

Sunil Sampat

Live music is alive, well and thriving. The Mahindra Blues Festival in February and the Angelique Kidjo concerts in March were very well attended by obviously appreciative Mumbai audiences. I was thrilled to be there to participate with the energy that permeated through their sounds. There is some X factor associated with a live music [...]

Music & Politics

Sunil Sampat

I am sure there are plenty of politics prevailing in the business of music. Where there is a buck to be made, you can be sure there is a crooked angle at work. But I find from personal experience that by and large, musicians are a nice, wholesome people, concerned for the most part, with [...]

Does Fusion Actually Work?

Sunil Sampat

As a student of metallurgy I was explained the meaning of the word “fusion.” When two metals are completely mixed in the molten state; that is they are first heated till they melt and then are mixed together; the product when solidified, is the fusion of the two metals. This new product has technical qualities [...]

Who’s in Charge Here?

Sunil Sampat

The starry-eyed disciple, an aspiring musician asked of his learned teacher, “In a music concert, who is the boss? Is it the composer of the music, the lyricist who wrote the words or the artist performing?” The wise teacher had a wry smile as he answered, “Well, in a classical music concert the artists all have their music written out precisely and have to play it note for note.

The 100 Greatest Jazz Songs

Best100JazzSongs

Somebody once asked me who my favourite Indian batsman was and rattled off half a dozen names. At first I was deep in thought to take my pick, but then answered happily that I didn’t have to make this choice. I could have them all. Similarly, friends have asked me to pick one trumpet player [...]

The Blues Are Everywhere

Music is the oldest of all the performing arts. It encompasses the expressions of human joy and pain. It can tell you stories straight from the heart. Listening to Billie Holiday, the great jazz singer with a plaintive, pensive delivery, conjures a certain mood of reflection and introspection. Listening to Begum Akhtar has almost the [...]

Kurt Elling

Dedicated To You
[Three stars]
Concord Records
Key Tracks: ‘Dedicated to You’, ‘Lush Life’

The Enigmatic Miles Davis

In the hundred plus years of jazz history, there have been several very great musicians who have left a deep, significant impact on the progress and direction the music has taken. Just one jazz musician has become a super star, attaining in the process the status akin to an American sports superstar. That person is [...]

Diana Krall

Quiet Nights
[Three Stars]
Verve
Key Tracks: ‘Quiet Nights’, ‘The Boy From Ipanema’

Event: Puravankara Indigo & Blues Festival featuring Van Wilks, Bobby Whitlock & Coco Carmel
Date: May 18th, 2012
Venue: Palace Grounds, Bengaluru
Event: Blues No Bar
Date: May 18th, 2012
Venue: Blue Frog, Mumbai
Event: Dualist Inquiry
Date: May 18th, 2012
Venue: Shroom, Delhi

The Supersonics Blast Back With New Material

The Supersonics Blast Back With New Material

The Supersonics, May 12, Someplace Else, Kolkata ...

Gig Preview: Spud in The Box at Hard Rock Café, Mumbai

Gig Preview: Spud in The Box at Hard Rock Café, Mumbai

The band’s enthusiasm is infectious and unlike most other young...

Fatboy Slim pushes the tempo for two hours

Fatboy Slim pushes the tempo for two hours

Fatboy Slim, May 6, E Zone Club, Bengaluru....

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