Classical meets jazz in Dec

still been no effort to showcase the contemporary jazz rhythms of the West with the classical ragas of either the Hindustani or the Carnatic traditions. I have always been interested in synchronising what is beautiful in all kinds of music." Why jazz? Says Chaurasia, “I have been a jazz afficionado for decades and have been planning to organise something like this for a long time.” He denies that he is jumping onto the fusion bandwagon because it is in vogue. “I don’t think I am talking of fusion at all. At least not in the manner in which it is has been understood.”

The musical line-up includes Vikku Vinayakaram on the ghatam, Ustaad Shafaat Ahmed Khan from Delhi on the tabla, jazz guitarist John McLaughlin, and Bendik Hofseth (Norway) on the saxophone. McLaughlin has performed with Miles Davis, Carlos Santana, Al di Meola and Paco de Lucia and been a part of groups like The Mahavishnu Orchestra and Shakti, while Hofseth who trained under rock guitarists like Frank Zappa and Jimi Hendrix and performed with the Oslo Symphony Orchestra, has written musical scores for ballet, movies and theatre.

The state government has even allotted land at the JVPD scheme for the school. It will adopt its students and train them without setting a fixed time limit, said Chaurasia. “We will ensure that every student receives training specific to his needs and functioning. If we notice that a talented student cannot afford training, then we will support him and his family until he completes his training,” he said.