Jazzing up the music skyline
Jazz in Hyderabad is rooted in the city's unusual amalgam of mores
Jazz as a genre of music is often viewed as a way of finding oneself in a world that doesn’t always feel like home. The 6th Edition of the Hyderabad Jazz Festival, presented by the US Consulate General and GoetheZentrum, was an exhilarating celebration of music, featuring performances by the Native Jazz Quartet from the USA, Malstrom from Germany, Cacha Mundino, and Hyderabad’s own George Hull Collective.
A TIE TO SOMETHING BIGGER
Jazz arrived in Hyderabad, like elsewhere in India, with the British. For those who played it, the genre was about cadence, improvisation, and a tie to something bigger.
“Over time, jazz faded into the background, but it never disappeared. There’s now a recognition of its role in connecting India to the world, an acknowledgement that Hyderabad is part of a much larger story,” says Jo Beyer, drummer of Malstrom, a band based between Germany and Switzerland. “Jazz in this city might not have undergone the same transformation it did in places like South America or Europe, but it still speaks of a time when cultures collided,” he adds.
Malstrom’s discography integrated progressive rock, nu-metal and electronic music. “The lack of a bass instrument forces our trio to innovate, producing a full, sometimes brute sound through an 8-string electric guitar, ostinatos, and saxophone. We devour everything in reachlight, sound, and matter — pulling it all into our vortex,” says Jo, adding, that jazz represents openness. “It’s about being part of a global music tradition, however small that part might have been.”
RESONATING WITH THE YOUTH
“Jazz in Hyderabad has had a good year,” says George Hull, saxophonist and driving force behind the George Hull Collective. “Recognition is still a way off, but the enthusiasm is building.” This year, the George Hull Collective has turned a new page. With a fresh line-up and a focus on modern and electronic jazz, the group leaned into tunes that resonated with the youth. The new ensemble is a compound of experience and energy. Leading the charge are two competent teenagers: 14-year-old Danny Geiles on the guitar and 16-year-old Sruthi Hasini on synth.
Nigel Geiles, a cousin of renowned bassist Dennis Powell, held down the bassline, while Nirvan threya brought his distinctive touch to the piano.
SMALL WORLD
Cacha Mundinho is a world-jazz quartet led by Portuguese singer-songwriter and guitarist Joana Almeida, who has been living in Amsterdam. The group also includes Turkish-Dutch percussionist Sjahin During, Spanish musician Maripepa Contreras on the oboe and duduk, and Brazilian Pedro Ivo Ferreira on double bass.
The name ‘Cacha Mundinho’ means ‘catch a small world,’ combining Cape Verdean Creole and Portuguese.
"Jazz has always been a welcoming and inclusive musical style, embracing influences from other genres. In India, we have Varijashree Venugopal, Amith Nadig, Apoorva Krishna, and Ila Sangeetha Diliip. They bring a special perspective by navigating chord changes through their grounding in ragas. it feels like an extraordinary period in India, fostering a true fusion of cultures and music—all flourishing under the expansive jazz umbrella."
— Aman Mahajan, pianist at Cacha Mundinho.