What’s on Chandigarh: Renowned vocalist Shreya Ray to hold Jazz concert in city

WHAT: As spring renews life around us, Elsewhere welcomes the season with a new sound – Jazz, by writer, vocalist and performer Shreya Ray. Elsewhere strives to create conversations between different art forms and people from across the country through curated events, endorsed by established artists.

Shreya’s three-octave voice has been compared to the legendary jazz great Ella Fitzgerald, and closer to home, to another legend, Asha Bhonsle’s. Born into a musical family, Shreya’s mother is the noted Hindustani classical vocalist, Madhumita Ray, and her grandmother a sitarist, who trained under Annapurna Devi. Shreya’s heritage combined with her literary and theatrical talent, directed her into the world of Broadway musicals, and jazz. “It suited my temperament, the literary quality of jazz works for me, as I identify with it, and it answers my question, who am I. Classical music remains an integral part of my life, the training prepares you for all other forms of music, as a vocalist, gives you grounding and I still use vocal exercises from my classical training,” shares Ray, here in Chandigarh for the concert.

Known for a pitch-perfect melodic voice and rich timbre, Shreya is reminiscent of old school sound covering the spectrum from soulful ballads, belty Broadway hits, and spunky swing. Shreya trained in both Hindustani Classical, and jazz traditions, and in 2017 launched her own jazz project as bandleader, with the support of some of the finest jazz musicians of the Delhi and London jazz scene. “I write songs, experiment with lyrics and enjoy the improvisations.” Improvised or invented as it is played, Jazz is classified as a type of modern music, and has a rhythm in which the strong notes often precede the beat.

This Sunday, lend an ear to jazz by Shreya, in her own original style.

WHEN AND WHERE: The concert is scheduled for April 28, 7 pm onwards at Hyatt Centric, Sector 17, Chandigarh.