MUMBAI: The revival of RnB, soul, jazz and other lesser celebrated genres of music in India is not a one man’s task, and Vasundhara Vee understands the situation continues to remain challenging – if not grim – for the small dedicated community of jazz musicians. Vasundhara’s concern towards the state of the genre does not limit to expressing the obvious, and her latest effort ‘Merkaba’ to promote the genre further has conceptualised into a quartet comprising of Gino Banks (Drums), Sheldon D’Silva (Bass) and Karan Joseph (keyboardist). The production, composing and innovation responsibilities fall under producer/guitarist Sanjay Divecha, whose expertise does act as an advantage to Merkaba’s short term and long term goals. Merkaba’s debut performance on 13 May would be a part of NCPA’s upcoming presentation in Western Classical Music titled ‘Union – Jazz and Soul Alliance’.
NCPA has been an important catalyst towards bringing together the jazz/soul fans and the Indian ambassadors for the genres under the same roof, and the venue acts as an ideal platform for the execution of the quintet’s maiden live performance.
The vocalist turned 30 on 5 May, and the reasons to celebrate surely has not ended for her. Vasundhara interacted with Radioandmusic.com on her latest projects, the future of jazz and the meaning of Merkaba.
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Q1. Merkaba potentially involves the country’s most established and recognised jazz names. How difficult/different is the experience of collaborating with musicians who have million ideas of their own?
Ans: It is in fact very simple with Merkaba. Sanjay is a fantastic composer and music director. He also allows for all of us to bring our real musical selves into the ideas and songs. There is also a sense of mutual understanding as we have all played together in different projects in the past. The process is rather effortless and organic in
Merkaba.
Q 2. You’ve explained the meaning of ‘Merkaba’. But how do you plan to use your style of music (jazz and beyond) to reflect what Merkaba stands for?
Ans: One of the meanings of Merkaba is lightspiritbody. We believe that music performance balances the animal, the intellect and the spirit’s quest for connection. Reflecting this, Merkaba’s music has really strong grooves and a rich harmonic landscape coupled with melodic and lyrical messages for people to drop defenses and find systems of respect, self respect and ease of Being. Merkaba is also the energy associated with a meditative trance and we all really connect with that feeling when we play or practice. What happens within that space has no name and no genre. It’s just music.
Q 3. What are the short term and long term goals with Merkaba?
Ans: We play our opening concert at the NCPA Experimental Theatre on the 13 2016. After that, there will be more live performances and eventually a release of recorded material.
Q 4. Jazz continues to be relevant in 2016, and the times are exciting. But if you had a chance to go back in time to an era of jazz, what would it be? And who’d you loved to collaborate with?
Ans: I love being in this era and wouldn’t trade it for any other. Our technologies, our social systems, our musical behaviors are all evolving. To be part of making a contemporary form of Jazz is really exciting.
Q 5. In an era when EDM has been attracting more youth than any other genre, several jazz musicians around the world have adapted to modern jazz elements and so have you. Is that the natural evolution for jazz and only alternative to gain more importance for the genre now?
Ans: Jazz is a very inclusive art form. It keeps drawing from current innovations in music as it is within the very culture of jazz music to do so to explore, respond and negotiate. For us, playing music is no longer about the youth. Our music addresses all people. It is melodic, groovy, conversational and easy to listen to. It is also harmonically rich for those who dig that. At every level, it is
FRIENDLY.
Q6. What jazz records influenced you to get into the form of music that you proudly continue to work for?
Ans: My first introduction to jazz was through the work of vocal jazz groups like the Manhattan Transfer, the New York Voices, The Real Group. Les Double Six etc. RnB, Soul and Gospel are also very strong influences for me. I think Merkaba draws inspiration equally from RnB, Pop, Soul, Gospel, Jazz Fusion and Funk. Sanjay has a way of summing up all this music history, but creating fresh and very contemporary songs.
Q 7. Lastly, what kind of audience do you want to reach to with Merkaba?
Ans: Merkaba is contemporary music reaching out to all of mankind. We talk about aspects of the human condition, about society, about reworking our cultural symbols and social systems, about selfacceptance and community healing. Our music is friendly and empathic and made from a place of connection and fun.
