All jazzed up

Van Den Berg has heard Indian music and he is full of praise for it. “Indian music is very popular in the world because it is close to the heart of the people,” says the Dutch musician,adding,“The singing in Indian music is very beautiful and direct,especially in Indian cinema.” However,Van Den Berg can’t help but talk about his love for jazz. He feels that jazz is the expression of one’s musical personality,in an improvised way. “Jazz is a way of expressing your personality. It can have different characteristics. For example,it can be based on church music,and today we feel that gospel music is an essential part of jazz,” he says.

When asked what he loved the most about this genre,he was effusive in his answer.“The thing about jazz,” he says,“is that is has a solid traditional foothold,but is looking forward,towards innovation. One of my favourite quotes is that by Ravi Shankar,who once told one of my teachers that he played only traditional music till he was 46-years-old,copying older artistes,but after that age,he has begun to play his own,original music.”

What about the jazz music that India has to offer? “I have heard of jazz artistes based in India and would love an opportunity to watch them perform,” he says,adding,“I have seen a lot of jazz enthusiasts in India,and it is perhaps only a matter of time before someone from India steps up on the world stage.”

(Berend Van Den Berg will be performing at Landmark,SGS Mall,at 6.30pm today)