All that (love) Jazz 💝

Hi friends,

The first time I ever heard Jazz music was in the winter of 2006, when I watched Sharik Hassan play at a pub called Opus in Bangalore, India. I was 19 and he was about the same age.

Never before had I watched/heard someone use the piano to create sounds like that. I was instantly attracted to it, to the harmony more than anything. When I learnt that everything he was playing was improvised, I was simply in awe. Suffice it to say, it was love at first hearing.

Since then, my love for Jazz has been on a steady rise. I wish I could add “And that is how I became a Jazz pianist”. I can’t. My relationship with piano and music… is a story for another time.

Given how over-scrupulous I have been about music, I outgrew mushy love songs fairly early on. But, when it comes to Jazz somehow, I thoroughly enjoy the indulgence and sentimentality.

Just to be clear, I am not talking about the “sentimental jazz” of Kenny G (or ‘Kennyji’, as we address with respect… ok sorry), who squeals his clarinet from atop elevators world over or takes over as soon as a customer care representative puts us on hold. I don’t enjoy that in a hotel lobby even.

I am speaking of the likes of Chet baker and Bill Evans.

Now, I’m no ‘Jazzcat’ by any stretch, I only really started listening to these legends about 3-4 years ago. I would like to share some of their music with you today.

I’ve used ‘love’ five times in this email, if you haven’t realised already, so… Happy Valentines Day… I guess 🎃

And happy listening!

Sumeru

P.S. If these recommendations make your ears bleed, please rush to an elevator near you.

Rubbing my beliefs in people’s faces (3 min)

DOBsessed (1 min)

Sheshamma (3 min)

The importance of being thin-skinned (1 min)

End (1 min)

If you are single, here’s a quote from Oscar Wilde. (If you are in a relationship, maybe read it twice?)

This classic for this day.

I can never decide what I like more, Chet Baker’s soulful trumpet playing or his restrained singing (he is doing both).

Love this vocal version of Round Midnight

And one of my all time favourites by my favourite, Bill Evans.