Photos: Thursday Jazz Encounter Signs Off with Big Jam

Kolkata vocalist Tanya Sen at Thursday Jazz Encounter: The Big Jam. Photo: Margub Ali

The city of Kolkata has only had a handful of weekly gigs that its music lovers can flock to on a regular basis. While Jamsteady [held at Princeton Club] continues to soldier on to provide indie music a dependable stage, Kolkata’s jazz and blues fans have the Thursday Jazz Encounter, which has been running for over two years now at Plush Lounge at the Astor Hotel.

The gig series, which has helped the likes of Kolkata label Amuze Records release live songs by bands featured on the lineup for its Foxtrot Project compilation, called upon regulars, new entrants and veterans for The Big Jam last week. The nonstop jam sessions that went much later into the night as usual were the last to be held at Plush Lounge for a while, with the venue being closed for renovation.

The Big Jam featured everyone from singers Isheeta Chakrvarty and Tanya Sen [from experimental rock band Zoo] to avant-garde jazz guitarist Bodhisattwa Ghosh and Rohan Ganguli [from rock band The Supersonics]. Thursday Jazz Encounter has previously hosted the likes of veteran guitarist Carlton Kitto, world music collective Kefaya, guitar hero Amyt Datta and many more. While the shortage of jazz in the city will be felt, we hope the gig series returns bigger than ever soon enough.

Photos: Margub Ali

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