Reclamation Jazz Festival: It’s all about jazz this week in Mumbai

Carter will be performing with his band, The James Carter Organ Trio. Also playing will be Carlos Bica, composer and musician from Portugal, and the John di Martino Quartet.

It’s jazz season at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) this week.

The fourth edition of the NCPA’s annual Reclamation Jazz Festival will feature performances by six bands over three days, including Cuban singer Doris Lavin and saxophonist James Carter, both performing for the first time in the country, pianist Helen Sung with her quartet, and musician Yuri Honing.

Carter will be performing with his band, The James Carter Organ Trio. Also playing will be Carlos Bica, composer and musician from Portugal, and the John di Martino Quartet.

Carlos Bica, composer and musician from Portugal

“My trio, Azul, has been playing all over the world for the last 10 years,” says Bica. “The invitation to perform this year at the Reclamation Jazz Festival happened as a result of our successful performance last year in Pune and Mumbai. We will play music from our five albums with special emphasis on our last album, Things About.”

Helen Sung has visited India twice before, and performs with a different ensemble each time. “She will perform with different members of her band this time around,” says Farrahnaz Irani, senior manager of programming (Western music) at the NCPA. “Yuri Honing has visited the country several times and even performed at the Rajasthan International Folk Festival in Jodhpur two years ago, with his quartet.”

Pianist Helen Sung

WHAT: Reclamation Jazz Festival

WHERE: National Centre for the Performing Arts, NCPA Marg, Nariman Point

WHEN: November 28, 29 and 30, 6.30pm onwards

COST: Ticket prices start at Rs 800

For schedule and online bookings, go to ncpamumbai.com

Cuban singer Doris Lavin

Saxophonist James Carter

John di Martino

Yuri Honing