Sid Jacobs, a guitar instructor at the Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music in Chennai was at the Pearl Fest in BITS Pilani, Hyderabad.
Says Sid, “For me, India has been a land of spiritual learning. I have been deeply inspired by the amazing diversity and way of living here. So much so that I have named my daughter “India”. When I got this offer to teach music at Chennai, more than my wife Edie, it was my daughter who convinced me not to miss this golden opportunity.
“I have been inspired by the works of many jazz musicians who have made their mark in the music fraternity by their phenomenal contribution. I have performed with jazz musicians like Harold Land, Eddie Harris, Buddy Montgomery, Joe Diorio, Brad Mehldau, Larry Goldings, Javon Jackson and entertainers such as Steve Lawrence, Eyde Gorme, Diahanne Carroll, Ike, Tina Turner, Luciano Pavarotti, and Frank Sinatra Jr. For learners there are books written by me, Jazz Guitar Improvisation and Modern Jazz Concepts for Guitar, other than an instructional DVD. Later there has been emphasis on the ‘Art of Two Line Improvisation’ for which I regularly conduct Master classes. Exposure to music makes you a better human being. For me, life is a journey, which needs to be taken forward with a big ‘Yes’.
“It’s all about being ‘positive’ all the time. If you ask me about my future plans, I would say ‘Yes’. Any project world over with positive vibrations would be welcome for me” concludes Sid.
— The writer is a musician, creator of ‘Jaywant Guitar’ and a freelance photographer
