Bengaluru’s musical firmament is poised for a night of rich, soul-stirring jazz performances as the Kiara Academy of Performing Arts gears up to host an extraordinary concert. Bringing her Hong Kong-flavoured jazz craft back to her erstwhile hometown, the multifaceted singer-songwriter Deborah Mannas will take the stage along with the acclaimed Mike Inot and the vibrant Soul Quintet. Adding to the charm, the Kiara Academy Choral Ensemble will enhance the night with their harmonic presence.
This event, marked for February 10th at the Koramangala Club Auditorium with shows at 5pm and 7pm, offers a unique opportunity to witness home-grown talent fused with international flair. The pricing of the tickets at ₹499 seems a modest ask for an experience interwoven with as many as 20 original compositions by Deborah herself, not forgetting other beloved covers that are set to be reimagined.
Deborah Mannas’s journey is nothing short of inspirational. A Bengaluru girl at heart, she found her musical feet early, weaving melodies and lyrics from the tender age of eleven. Her voyage into the arts saw her relocate to Hong Kong at 25, where she continued to flourish musically, minting two solo albums and six intriguing singles along the way. Her music embodies an eclectic mix — classical strains meeting jazz, with the influences of rock and pop from her formative years — fructifying into what she describes as “soulful melodies with inspiring lyrics,” an embrace of world music in its truest sense.
Linking arms with Deborah in this much-awaited concert is saxophonist Mike Inot. Well-acquainted with the vibrancy of Hong Kong’s music circles and having performed alongside Deborah and various jazz ensembles, Mike’s saxophone expertise is set to add a new dimension to the evening’s performances.
The local stars, The Soul Quintet, promise to amplify the jazz allure with their established presence on Bengaluru’s jazz circuit. The quartet, consisting of pianist Joshua Costa, guitarists Suvankar Ghosh and Joshua Lance, and drummer Vivian Rajan, share a compelling rapport, one that promises a magical chemistry with Deborah’s vocal charm.
Suvankar Ghosh expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration: “It’s an exhilarating experience when an accomplished artist like Deborah invites us to merge our styles with her compositions.” Emphasizing the creative freedom they’ve been afforded, Ghosh elaborates, “As musicians, we enjoy the process of contributing to someone’s work, bringing our own interpretations, improvisations, and infusing new vitality.”
This sentiment was echoed by the members, highlighting that musical creation is a service to the song itself, where the ultimate duty is to ensure the music’s core is preserved while new avenues of expression are opened up.
Further elevating the melodious night, under the direction of Wendy M Dickson, the Kiara Academy Choral Ensemble will lend their voices to the concert, expected to last a blissful ninety minutes. Their collective vocal prowess will undeniably add a layer of richness to the already varied auditory tapestry.
In what promises to be more than just a concert, but an exploration of musical landscapes, Bengaluru’s jazz aficionados have a reason to look forward to an event filled with soul, rhythm, and the dynamism of international jazz culture brought home.
Bearing witness to a fusion of home-grown and international talents, the city’s cultural calendar is set ablaze. The stage is set, the performers are primed, and the city awaits with eager ears for an evening where jazz will not just be performed, but celebrated, remembered, and savoured, long after the final note fades away. Tickets are available for purchase on Paytm Insider, an accessible portal for the enthusiastic crowd to secure their passage to this one-of-a-kind musical gathering.
