Where is the Jazz?

They have been called the future of jazz by newspapers in Paris.

They have been called the future of jazz by newspapers in Paris. Members of the French band ‘No Jazz’ however remain unaffected by the compliments that have been heaped on them for their unique style of music. Formed in 2002,the band comprises of keyboardist Phillippe Balatier aka Balatman,virtuoso jazz trumpeter Sylvain Gontard aka Silversly,bassist and drummer Pascal Reva aka Bilbo,saxophonist Phillippe Sellam aka Slam and guest artist HKB Finn. The band will be performing in the city for the first time on June 19 at the Kalachaya campus as a part of the Fete De La Musique festival being organised by the Alliance Française de Pune.

Speaking about their French beginnings,Balatman very candidly confesses that his English is poor. “We all met doing not the same music,” he adds. “Bilbo came from a pop music background. I was doing demo electronic music for AKAI; Slam and Sly did underground jazz; and Finn was a hip-hop rapper. When we began playing at the first rehearsal one of us said,”There is too much jazz,lets play less jazz,and we came up with this unique provocative name.”

Comparing their distinctive playing styles to a rock band,Balatman says that their varied influences have actually bought the band together. “We are a democratic band,” he laughs,adding that they discuss a lot. “Sometimes it is very hard on all of us but we do it. Eventually the final product is a good one.” The band has been performing the intro for the TV show Salut Les Terriens every Saturday since 2006. They have been performing the song Boogaloo from their third album Have Fun on the show.

The musical style of the band,as Balatman puts it,is a mix of old jazz and new electronic music. “I think jazz has become too intellectual now. In the 1940s,it was all about making people dance. What we play are real songs,with meanings and horn themes. We want to see people move,” he adds. Speaking on the band’s Indian sojourn,Balatman says that they would be honoured to play with Indian artistes. “Oh,we are open to playing with new musicians in any country. We have already performed with a tabla player in Bangalore,who goes by the name Muthu. In addition,we have played with Delhi-based drummer Tarun Balani. We never plan to play with anyone. But we love it when people come and play. They come to our soundchecks and ask us. Maybe it will happen in Pune too,” he says.

(No Jazz will be performing at the Kalachaya Campus,Patrakar Nagar road,on June 19,6.30pm onwards)

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories