Foot Tapper

Jazz enthusiasts at Nehru Place were bobbing their heads to Bangalore-based The Radha Thomas Ensemble and Ararat from Israel when Nadia Mladjao,better known by her stage name Imany,made an entry on the second day of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations’ International Jazz fest. The Afro-Soul singer from Martigues,France,is fresh out of the Paris indie music circuit.

While she likes to steer clear of labels,calling her music “eclectic”,Imany didn’t take too long to shatter everyone’s expectations of a sombre evening. By the end of her performance on Saturday,she had everyone dancing to her infectious melodies in her sassy,deep baritone. She started the performance with a couple of original compositions such as Where Have You Been,I’ve Gotta Go,and Grey Monday. She then did a cover version of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. It was the time when every in the audience sang in unison.

She sang Please and Change from her debut album,as an ode to all those with a broken heart who want to “murder the person responsible”. “We don’t have to be the better person,do we?” she asked,playfully. The regaling,70-minute performance ended with a track titled Slow Down,during which she insisted on having everybody stand up. Her swift dance moves had us on our feet,giving us our music fix for the evening.