`JAZZ'ING UP BOLLYWOOD
Jazz music has been an integral part of the Hindi movie indus try since the early 1950s, an era that is also referred to as the Golden Age of film music. The unmistakable strains of the woodwind instruments -trombone, trumpet, saxophone and clarinet along with the piano, guitar and drums -would bring the genre alive with beautiful, seductive and swinging melodies.
Master composers like ShankarJaikishan, Madan Mohan, OP Nayyar, SD Burman and Salil Chaudhury worked in tandem with Goan music arrangers of the time, including Anthony Gonsalves, Frank Fernand, Chic Chocolate and Sebastian D'Souza, to create some of the most unforgettable jazz-influenced songs in the history of Hindi cinema.
FORAY INTO FILMS
Jazz was the pop music of its time.Back in 1920 upto the '60s, it featured heavily in the West.Composer Dhruv Ghanekar says, “Post Independence, there were many Anglo Indian musicians who studied jazz harmony .“ As film music grew and become mainstream in the '50s, a lot of these musicians who'd play at jazz clubs and hotels, began to look at the industry to supplement their income. Dhruv adds, “Many composers hired them to create orchestrations and arrangements for their melodies. Through the '60s and '70s, RD Burman, who was heavily influenced by Latin and jazz harmonies, worked with famous arrangers like Kersi Lord and Louis Banks.“
BACK IN THE DAYS
One of the finest genres to play around with, jazz lent itself beautifully to Indian music. Gore Gore O Banke Chhore (Samadhi 1950), Shola Jo Bhadke (Albela, 1951), Babuji Dheere Chalna (Aar-Paar , 1954), Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu (Howrah Bridge, 1958), Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si (Chalti ka Naam Gaadi, 1958) and Dil Deke Dekho (1959), are some examples.
Singer Shibani Kashyap says, “RD had a lot of jazz flavour in his music. In his song Jane Jaan Dhoondta Phir (Jawani Diwani, 1971) bass guitar and harmony was used for the first time in Bollywood.“
Songs with jazz influence have always been the ones that made you go `Aha!' -with their unexpected harmonies and challenging rhythms. The improvised solos of a saxophone would tug at your heart and that was what made Bollywood jazz so popular.
IT IS AN ACQUIRED TASTE
Though many music composers and singers love jazz, most feel that it is an acquired taste. Singer and music producer Clinton Cerejo says, “I would only use jazz if a film demanded it by design. It's a fine balance between doing something really musical and alienating your listener. I honestly don't think Bollywood songs can truly be called jazz songs. Jazz flavour, there are many . But a jazz song goes beyond an idiom and a genre. It extends to the life blood of the people that truly make that music. In fact, most true jazz musicians are often reluctant to call themselves that because it's not a title one can wear loosely .“ There are definite markers to a stereotypical traditional jazz arrangement like the use of a shuffle or swing beat, possibly an acoustic stand-up bass, a big band or horn section, etc.
JAZZ IN BOLLYWOOD NOW
“These days, Bollywood music has many styles.Though not many songs are actually jazz, there are some that have these elements,“ states songwritercomposer Mikey McCleary . The use of sax and trumpet often give a jazzy feel to Bollywood songs and so do walking base lines. Mikey adds, “I've noticed that there is more experimentation with harmony and using jazz chords in film songs.One of the characteristics of jazz is a swing feel in the rhythm. Jazz will continue to influence Bollywood music, but it may not always be a traditional jazz sound.“
Last year, composer Amit Trivedi came up with an entire album of songs with a heavy jazz influence -Bombay Velvet. Also, in the last two decades, there have been many Bollywood movies that have had a lot of songs with prominent jazz music.Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's Sheher Mera (One By Two, 2011) with lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya is a fab, jazzy number. The song, sung by Thomson Andrews, has drums by Gino Banks and saxophone by Ryan Sadri.Listening to this one makes you yearn for more jazz in movies.
Peppy numbers like Girls Like To Swing (Dil Dhadakne Do, 2015) and Aunty Ji (Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, 2012) will remain popular. Slow tracks like Ye Tumhari Meri Baatein (Rock On!!, 2008), Aise Na Dekho (Raanjhanaa, 2013) and the title track of Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na (2008) are fine examples of jazz.
WON'T EVER GO OUT OF STYLE
Jazz is essentially improvised music and it won't go out of fashion easily. Dhruv says, “Audiences always want to be dazzled by virtuosity . I think music evolves and people's tastes change every decade or so, but the jazz influence is here to stay.“
Jazz music has been an integral part of the Hindi movie indus try since the early 1950s, an era that is also referred to as the Golden Age of film music. The unmistakable strains of the woodwind instruments -trombone, trumpet, saxophone and clarinet along with the piano, guitar and drums -would bring the genre alive with beautiful, seductive and swinging melodies.
Master composers like ShankarJaikishan, Madan Mohan, OP Nayyar, SD Burman and Salil Chaudhury worked in tandem with Goan music arrangers of the time, including Anthony Gonsalves, Frank Fernand, Chic Chocolate and Sebastian D'Souza, to create some of the most unforgettable jazz-influenced songs in the history of Hindi cinema.
FORAY INTO FILMS
Jazz was the pop music of its time.Back in 1920 upto the '60s, it featured heavily in the West.Composer Dhruv Ghanekar says, “Post Independence, there were many Anglo Indian musicians who studied jazz harmony .“ As film music grew and become mainstream in the '50s, a lot of these musicians who'd play at jazz clubs and hotels, began to look at the industry to supplement their income. Dhruv adds, “Many composers hired them to create orchestrations and arrangements for their melodies. Through the '60s and '70s, RD Burman, who was heavily influenced by Latin and jazz harmonies, worked with famous arrangers like Kersi Lord and Louis Banks.“
BACK IN THE DAYS
One of the finest genres to play around with, jazz lent itself beautifully to Indian music. Gore Gore O Banke Chhore (Samadhi 1950), Shola Jo Bhadke (Albela, 1951), Babuji Dheere Chalna (Aar-Paar , 1954), Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu (Howrah Bridge, 1958), Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si (Chalti ka Naam Gaadi, 1958) and Dil Deke Dekho (1959), are some examples.
Singer Shibani Kashyap says, “RD had a lot of jazz flavour in his music. In his song Jane Jaan Dhoondta Phir (Jawani Diwani, 1971) bass guitar and harmony was used for the first time in Bollywood.“
Songs with jazz influence have always been the ones that made you go `Aha!' -with their unexpected harmonies and challenging rhythms. The improvised solos of a saxophone would tug at your heart and that was what made Bollywood jazz so popular.
IT IS AN ACQUIRED TASTE
Though many music composers and singers love jazz, most feel that it is an acquired taste. Singer and music producer Clinton Cerejo says, “I would only use jazz if a film demanded it by design. It's a fine balance between doing something really musical and alienating your listener. I honestly don't think Bollywood songs can truly be called jazz songs. Jazz flavour, there are many . But a jazz song goes beyond an idiom and a genre. It extends to the life blood of the people that truly make that music. In fact, most true jazz musicians are often reluctant to call themselves that because it's not a title one can wear loosely .“ There are definite markers to a stereotypical traditional jazz arrangement like the use of a shuffle or swing beat, possibly an acoustic stand-up bass, a big band or horn section, etc.
JAZZ IN BOLLYWOOD NOW
“These days, Bollywood music has many styles.Though not many songs are actually jazz, there are some that have these elements,“ states songwritercomposer Mikey McCleary . The use of sax and trumpet often give a jazzy feel to Bollywood songs and so do walking base lines. Mikey adds, “I've noticed that there is more experimentation with harmony and using jazz chords in film songs.One of the characteristics of jazz is a swing feel in the rhythm. Jazz will continue to influence Bollywood music, but it may not always be a traditional jazz sound.“
Last year, composer Amit Trivedi came up with an entire album of songs with a heavy jazz influence -Bombay Velvet. Also, in the last two decades, there have been many Bollywood movies that have had a lot of songs with prominent jazz music.Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's Sheher Mera (One By Two, 2011) with lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya is a fab, jazzy number. The song, sung by Thomson Andrews, has drums by Gino Banks and saxophone by Ryan Sadri.Listening to this one makes you yearn for more jazz in movies.
Peppy numbers like Girls Like To Swing (Dil Dhadakne Do, 2015) and Aunty Ji (Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, 2012) will remain popular. Slow tracks like Ye Tumhari Meri Baatein (Rock On!!, 2008), Aise Na Dekho (Raanjhanaa, 2013) and the title track of Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na (2008) are fine examples of jazz.
WON'T EVER GO OUT OF STYLE
Jazz is essentially improvised music and it won't go out of fashion easily. Dhruv says, “Audiences always want to be dazzled by virtuosity . I think music evolves and people's tastes change every decade or so, but the jazz influence is here to stay.“
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