Martin Visser and Adrian D’Souza to headline The Madras Jazz Festival

The Madras Jazz Festival returns with its fifth edition
Adrian D’Souza
Adrian D’Souza

Ahead of the fifth edition of The Madras Jazz Festival, Edison Prithviraj of Chennai-based event management organisation Exodus says that the festival has seen a massive growth in jazz following in the city. This year, the line-up has a mix of familiar and new faces, featuring well-known saxophonist Martin Visser, who will be accompanied by bassist Keith Peters and acclaimed drummer Adrian D’Souza as a trio. Accompanying them will be city-based jazz troupe East Wind Quartet and French band Steak. “While choosing the artistes, I make sure I take advice from experts. Martin Visser himself is one such artiste who gives valuable inputs,” says Edison, who curated the line-up. 

Ahead of the festival, we caught up with the crew of Steak who is coming down for the festival and found out what drives them and their process of making music. Comprising of Paul Cadier (sax and percussion), Flavien Legland (contrebasse) and Axel Gaudron (percussion), it was formed in 2013. “We met during local jazz tours in schools. Since we had very similar tastes in music and were good friends, it was evident we would play together,” says Paul, who describes their music as experimental pop-folk. “Our music has evolved a lot since the beginning. We used to play exclusively instrumental free-jazz, in the style of Ornette Coleman or Keith Jarrett. It took a real turn a couple of years ago when we gradually started adding voices, effects, and a keyboard. We know play a full set of songs,” he adds. 

“Our music now is now influenced by bands like The Beach Boys, the Fleetfoxes, American folk music and even Western movies,” he says, adding that their band is part of a collective called Capsul Collectif, that groups a dozen of other bands. With plans to record their current set in December, Steak is also collaborating with Carnatic pop musician Lopa Mudra and pop artiste Philip John. “Unfortunately we have not met any jazz musicians in India, which we are going to change this time around,” he assures. 

September 22. 6 pm onwards. At Alliance Française of Madras. Details: 4212-1631

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