The Nationality of Jazz

By Sunil Sampat | Columns May 31, 2011

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

By Sunil Sampat | All-Access, Columns April 08, 2011

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

By Sunil Sampat | Columns February 11, 2011

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?

By Sunil Sampat | Columns December 14, 2010

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?

By Sunil Sampat | Columns November 08, 2010

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

By Sunil Sampat | Best Ever Lists, Features June 10, 2010

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

By Sunil Sampat | All-Access, Music September 26, 2009

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

By Sunil Sampat | Albums, All-Access, Reviews August 25, 2009

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

The Enigmatic Miles Davis

By Sunil Sampat | All-Access, News & Updates August 25, 2009

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 [...]