The Italian Consulate in Bengaluru recently played host to a captivating evening filled with the eclectic sounds of contemporary jazz. The event was held at the Prestige Srihari Khoday Centre for Performing Arts, where the stage was graced by an extraordinary trio of internationally acclaimed musicians. This exceptional Italian-Indo collaboration featured the dynamic play of Paolo Fresu on the trumpet, the evocative melodies of Rita Marcotulli on the piano, and the rhythmic ingenuity of Trilok Gurtu on percussion. The night was a symphony of cultural synthesis, with the blending of musical traditions transcending geographical boundaries.
The music soared with elegance, each note and rhythm expertly crafted, demonstrating a mastery of original composition that is a hallmark of contemporary jazz. While jazz can often seem exclusive to the enthusiast, the performances by Fresu, Marcotulli, and Gurtu made it accessible and enticing. They brought to the audience a sound that was inherently jazz, yet so much more, infused with elements of World music, Soul, Rock, and even African rhythms—sometimes with a distinctly Indian flair as Gurtu played the tabla or other native instruments.
The musical narrative crafted by the trio spoke of a myriad of stories, emotions, and cultural dialogues. Fresu’s ‘O que tinha de ser’ was a piece that tantalizingly hinted at memories of lost love through its bluesy undertones and soulful depth, while remaining unmistakably jazz. His virtuosity shone as he seamlessly alternated between the trumpet and the flugelhorn, often within a single piece, displaying masterful artistry that held the audience spellbound.
The improvisation between the musicians unfurled like a verbal exchange, their repartees reminiscent of poetic ‘shayaris’, far exceeding the brevity of Urdu couplets. At one point, Marcotulli’s piano responded to Gurtu’s rhythms, as he created beats on a Cajon—a box-shaped percussion instrument—skilfully extracting sounds by tapping it with his hands. In a mesmerizing display, Gurtu performed his ‘Water Song,’ using an array of hybrid percussion items, including an aluminum bucket filled with water from which he coaxed sounds by striking a steel frying pan submerged within, complemented by the metallic resonance of a Zildjian cymbal. His percussion medley brought together disparate elements from western drums, the Indian tabla, African djembes, and sometimes congas.
Preparation for such a complex performance was an undercurrent of dedicated practice, though the ensemble only took a single day to rehearse with the instruments, which were meticulously curated by the Prestige Srihari Centre ten days prior to the show, according to Manoj Singh, the Centre’s VP.
Trilok Gurtu, whose lineage includes his mother, thumri maestro Shobha Gurtu, once grappled with finding appreciation for his unconventional beats in his homeland. His journey took him to Europe, where his collaborations infused new life into his craft alongside western legends like John McLaughlin. Meanwhile, Rita Marcotulli’s romance with the piano began at the tender age of five, her muse being ignited by jazz pianist Thelonius Monk. She has since then composed and played alongside jazz luminaries such as Chet Baker and Richard Galliano.
The bond between Marcotulli and Fresu is one of longstanding familiarity, although their performance partnership is recent. Paolo, a professor of music and director of various international cultural institutions, has been serenading audiences with his trumpet since he was 11. A recipient of numerous awards, his music spans an impressive three decades and over 350 recordings across jazz, ethnic, contemporary, and ancient genres.
As the evening drew to a close, the Italian Consul General in Bengaluru, Alfonso Tagliaferri, poignantly observed that “Music is the easiest way to form cultural links.” The event not only highlighted the universality of music but showed how the harmonious blending of differing sounds could craft an unforgettable cultural experience—an apt reflection of Bengaluru’s growing status as a hub for international artistic exchange.
