My sister Jayanthi and her boyfriend Aakash are both musicians. (While I may be a little biased) They are both incredible artists. You can check out their websites by clicking on their names. They are both living in Kolkata and working on their music. Aakash, composer and alto saxophonist extraordinaire, has a fellowship with the American institute of Indian Studies (AIIS) where he is studying with a master and expanding his fascinating blend of jazz and Indian music. Jayanthi, a vocal performer and music teacher, has been teaching at a school in Kolkata and has joined with Aakash’s (usually quartet)jazz band to sing and improv. This past weekend, the Aakash Mittal Kolkata Quintet toured in Bangalore. I was lucky enough to attend their concerts!
The Band performing at Plush, Kolkata
…And they were awesome! Aakash has been playing with three other guys in Kolkata, Nishad, Gorav (aka the afore mentioned Gabu), and Bumpy, all supremely accomplished musicians. The night before we left Kolkata, the group performed at the jazz night at Plush, a club on Shakespeare Sirani, a road near Suder St (kind of an old landmark of mine). It was the first time I’d heard them all perform together, and the first time I had heard Jaya sing jazz (usually, as a classically trained soprano vocalist, she sings more operatic songs). I really enjoyed the whole experience. I went to the concert with Alec, one of Jayanthi’s best friends in Kolkata and another of her closest friends Matt met us there.
Jayanthi, Matt, and Alec @ Plush
There were many other AIIS friends of theirs who came to the concert who I have met already and some people who I had gotten to meet at Gabu’s Holi party, such as his sister Tikita, who is really nice, and quite brilliant, just like their mom (whom Jayanthi and I were quite blown away by at the Holi party, btw). We had a really enjoyable time at the excellent concert. I headed out with Matt a little early to go home and pack for my flight to Bangalore in the morning with the band.
As soon as we arrived in Bangalore, all the guys and Jayanthi had to go for a sound check at the jazz club they were performing at that night, bFlat. I took a cab to my cousin Pranuthi’s house. I’ll be staying with her, her husband Emmu, and their three kids for almost a week. Her oldest is a girl named Sanchita, who I met when she was about a year old. She is now 12. She has a younger brother Tharan, and their little bro, Vivan is almost 4. Their home is in S. Bangalore, near a hotel/conference center/concert venue complex my cousin Emmu works at. He’s spearheading the program expanding their concert venue. Aakash’s performance is the second large music concert they’re having this year. This CEO Centre is the biggest music venue this side of town. The group plays here tonight, and tomorrow will play at a huge mall in B’lore, the Phoenix mall.
Last night, Pranu, Emmu’s sister Rachel, and I went to bFlat for the concert. Again, we were wowed and impressed by the performance. One of my favorite jazz tunes is Summertime, from Porgy and Bess. Now, I have to tell you about an absolutely great “Only in India” moment that I had. I was looking over the menu at bFlat and I saw that they had Irish Coffee. Now, I’ve been on this crazy, desperate, coffee craving since I got ton india. I had become a bit of a coffeeholic before leaving the States. I’m having a hard time getting my coffee fix here in India. (Not only because we don’t have it often enough, but because America conditioned me to these giant sized coffees with double shots of espresso). So, I see Irish coffee, which has whiskey and coffee, om the menu, and I’m thinking….yeah! Sounds good!
Irish coffee at bFlat!?
Crazy India Initiating…First, when I try to order, the guy tells me there’s no coffee. None. Then, as I re-peruse the menu, looking for something else, the guy from behind the bar, calls out that there can, in fact, be coffee. So, I order it and after a bit, this guy puts a wine glass in front of me. It’s full of a dark liquid and at the top is a creamy, delicious looking…froth. What? did i get the wrong drink? It actually looks like it might be Guinness. did I read the menu incorrectly, or not know my drinks? No. It’s the one i ordered. And don’t get me wrong. It’s definitely hot coffee. Literally only holdable by the stem. Oh, India.