Kutumba

Marlow Rosado

Tito Puente Jr

Suzy&2

Cadenza Collective

A week off during Dasain is barely enough and Tihar seems ages away. But fret not. Surya Nepal Jazzmandu this year, like the past ten editions, promises you a smooth transition from one festivity to the other.

After playing at the Palmer Street Festival in Sydney in 2000, Navin Chhetri, drummer and vocalist of Cadenza hatched an audacious plan with some friends to introduce Kathmandu and the international jazz circuit to each other. Two years later Jazzmandu was born and now has a guest list that boasts the likes of Trilok Gurtu, Ari Hoenig, and Louis Banks, and artists from opposite corners of the world from Honduras to Australia and Norway to Thailand.

Besides giving us another reason to party, Jazzmandu is encouraging youngsters to pick up an instrument. This year will see the return of Jazz for the Next Generation Music Competition which gave rise to young talents like Abhisek Bhadra (see box). Jazzmandu also organised two workshops in October in partnership with the Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory to introduce jazz to young audiences. "Not having to explain what jazz is anymore has been nice," says Chhetri.

And on its 10th birthday, Jazzmandu has a tasty treat lined up for Kathmandu's crawlers. Headlining this year's festival will be Tito Puente Jr from the US, who has been carrying his legendary father's repertoire and passion to audiences around the world.

Beat Kaestli and Ben Stivers (Switzerland), Marlow Rosado (USA), Rootman (Thailand), Suzy&2 (Norway), Adil and Vasundhara (India), and Nojazz (France) will perform with their respective ensembles and with each other across the Valley, while Cadenza, Kutumba, and Urjazz will be the flag bearers for Nepal.

The Jazzmandu calendar

Jazz for the next generation,
1 November, 2.30 to 4.30 pm, KJC, free entry
Performance by local musicians out of whom three finalists will be picked to perform at Jazz Bazaar alongside top Jazz artists from around the world. The finalists will also get to interact and engage in a private workshop with Jazzmandu musicians. Limited seats available.

Valley jams,
2 November, 7.30 to 9.30 pm, Rs 400
Different venues in Kathmandu will feature performances by various Jazzmandu artists.

Jazz bazaar,
3 November, 2.30 to 10 pm, Gokarna Forest Resort, Rs 899
Far from the cacophony of Kathmandu, in the lush green forests of Gokarna, a marathon of jazz and traditional Nepali folk and classical music awaits you. Bus available from Hyatt Regency, Boudha from 1 to 4 pm and to Lazimpat at 10 pm, seats not guaranteed.

Afro-Latin jazz,
4 November, 7.30 to 9.30 pm, Hotel Shangri-La, Rs 899
A night of Afro-Cuban sounds of the Caribbean with Tito Puente Jr and Marlow Rosado, accompanied by the Jazzmandu all-star band which will be followed by a jam with Jazzmandu musicians.

Rootman

Nojazz

Adil and Vasundhara

Urjazz

Jazzmandu master class,
6 November, 3.30 to 4.30 pm, KJC, free entry
An opportunity for music students and jazz enthusiasts to interact with visiting musicians, share experiences, and get tips on techniques and instruments.

Jazz at Patan,
6 November, 6 to 8.30 pm, Patan Museum, Rs 1,299
An evening of Nepali classical music fused with Jazz, played in the historic courtyard.

Jazzmandu finale,
7 October, 5.30 to 10 pm, Hotel Shangri-La, Rs 999
Bands will play their sets and later jam together, culminating in a high-energy, improvised treat to bid adieu to this year's musical festivities.

www.jazzmandu.org

Watch videos from Jazzmandu festival of years past:
Jazzmandu 2011