The Bundesjazzorchester or The Big Band features an ensemble of around thirty exceptionally talented, young musicians alongside our own stalwarts of Carnatic music like R.A. Ramamani, T.A.S. Mani and globally renowned percussionists like Karthik Subramaniam and Ramesh Shotham.
Since its foundation 24 years ago the federal youth jazz orchestra (BuJazz pronounced ‘Boo-yatz’) has stood for “the creativity, vitality and frankness of Jazz made in Germany.” The Goethe Institut, Max Mueller Bhavan initiative aims at honouring both cultures and genres by bringing these musicians from diverse schools of music to come together and put up a truly spectacular show.
Speaking about the concert that is completing the 5th leg of its seven city tour in Pune, Michael Flucht, director of Goethe Institut says, “This concert is of an outstanding quality and so it has been well received wherever it has travelled. Along with the pioneers of Indian music, we have 30 promising, young German musicians who really are, the best of the best.”
Ramesh Shotham is a globally active percussionist who was born in Madras and has been living in Cologne for years. He explains what makes such an act possible by stating, “One of the most common elements in Carnatic music and Jazz music is improvisation and that’s what these German musicians excel at, even at such a tender age.” R. A. Ramamani, who enjoys a special status as one of the best singers in India, goes on to add, “It is a very difficult process. The pitches don’t match sometimes. As a South Indian singer you can sing with A or A flat throughout, but in such a collaboration, that is not the case.”
Titled “Germany and India 2011-2012: Infinite Opportunities”, the fifteen month collaboration (September 2011 to November 2012) celebrates the completion of 60 years of Indo-German diplomatic relations. Stage Conductor Mike Herting comments, “Apart from the technique and theory of music, it involves coming together with mutual respect and love. Something like this has never been done before. We are the first generation of people who have the option of listening to music from anywhere in the world. I just want to learn something out of this fusion of two cultures.”
Viktor Wolf, one of the young German musicians has made a self promise to visit India again and see it more of its landscapes at leisure. About the upcoming concert at Ishanya he says, “The whole thing has been amazing experience and we just can’t wait to get back on yet another stage in this great country.” Let’s hope such an initiative sees a young Indian orchestra being sent to Germany sometime in the near future. Music has helped surpass yet another boundary.
Apart from 2 pieces of the legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie Mariano, and one of Louis Banks, all the pieces at Bujazzo will be original compositions.
Entry is free and will be awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Venue: Ishanya Amphitheatre, Yerawada
Date & Time: 25th Nov, 7pm onwards
Contact: Rujuta Jamgaonkar +91 976 391 4994 / rujuta.jamgaonkar@pune.goethe.org