Pune Jazz and Blues Club: Celebrating the Richness of Jazz

Ziya Khan

5 hours ago

On the first Sunday of each month, Shisha Cafe at The Mills in Pune opens its doors to a vibrant group known as the Pune Jazz and Blues Club. This eclectic assembly gathers to explore and celebrate the intricate layers of jazz and blues, paying homage to the legendary artists behind these genres.“Our goal is to educate people about different aspects of music they may not be familiar with. With the help of experts, we aim to provide information while entertaining, making our sessions a blend of infotainment,” explains Ashwin Panemangalore, 82, a key figure in promoting music in the city.

On March 2, the club hosted a listening session titled ‘Vocal Jazz Odyssey,’ showcasing vocal harmony groups in jazz that often go unrecognized. Last month’s event featured an audio-visual presentation on jazz drums, highlighting how musicians create a diverse range of percussion sounds using various instruments, including brushes and mallets. The year began with a presentation focusing on the legendary John McLaughlin, followed by sessions on Quincy Jones, jazz guitars, and the evolution of the jazz piano.“As an art form, jazz is incredibly rich, with numerous sub-genres and a complex evolution. There exists a jazz tree that illustrates these different branches,” Ashwin adds.

A Journey into Jazz

Ashwin’s love for music traces back to his school days at St. Vincent’s High School. However, it wasn’t until he attended the College of Engineering, Pune (COEP) that he discovered jazz. Inspired by the 1959 film The Five Pennies, he began collecting LPs on swing music from the now-defunct Poona Music House.A college friend introduced him to a Voice of America radio show by Willis Conover, which broadcast jazz daily. “

The Birth of the Pune Jazz Club

In 2002, a group of jazz enthusiasts gathered to share their love for the music, leading to the formation of the Pune Jazz Club, initiated by businessman Ahmed Ebrahim. “The music isn’t widely popular, and the number of jazz albums is limited,” Ashwin notes.The club enjoyed a monthly turnout of around 100 attendees at Max Mueller Bhavan for several years before attendance dwindled. By 2012, Ebrahim decided to close the club, prompting Ashwin and Shisha Cafe founder Mehdi Niroomand to revitalize it.