San Jose Jazz: George Brooks and Arjun Verma: Improvisation in Jazz and Indian Classical Music
Thursday, September 24, 2020 @ 10:00 pm - 11:30 pm
George Brooks and Arjun Verma: Improvisation in Jazz and Indian Classical Music
If you’ve thrilled to a performance by Dianne Reeves or Marquis Hill at Summer Fest, or one of Charnett Moffett’s bass solos at Winter Fest, you’ve experienced some of the best in jazz improvisation. Improvisation is a key aspect of Western jazz, but it’s also a part of other musical traditions including Indian classical music.
Tomorrow evening, in a 75-minute Zoom session, noted saxophonist George Brooks and sitarist Arjun Verma engage in discussion exploring improvisation as a fundamental part of these two genres and treat you to duo performances that show you the fascinating results of the two approaches sharing the same stage. A collaboration with Mosaic Silicon Valley.
George Brooks and Arjun Verma:
Improvisation in Jazz and Indian Classical Music
Thu, Sep 24, 7pm
George Brooks is a prolific saxophonist and composer, acclaimed for successfully bridging the worlds of jazz and Indian classical music. He is the founder of several influential fusion groups including Summit with Zakir Hussain, Steve Smith, Kai Eckhardt and Fareed Haque; Bombay Jazz with Larry Coryell and Ronu Majumdar; the Raga Bop Trio with Steve Smith and Carnatic guitarist Prasanna and Elements with Indian violinist Kala Ramnath and Dutch harpist Gwyneth Wentink.
Arjun Verma has been performing for over 25 years, at venues including the United Nations (Geneva), the Fillmore (San Francisco), Fox Theater (Oakland), Pattee Arena (Monterey), the New School (New York), Birmingham Museum of Art and Prague Castle, and has also been featured on NBC Bay Area. A 2020 Mosaic Fellow, Arjun has emerged with a unique voice on the sitar-both within the tradition of North Indian classical music and through his innovative cross-genre collaborations.
