Kathmandu, October 15

The chilly air in the outdoor setting of Yalamaya Kendra in Patan Dhoka was the perfect weather for the heart warming tunes of 'Jazz at Patan' on Tuesday. Chairs were lined up in front of the stage where people were nodding with the music in appreciation, while others enjoyed the music from the balcony which gave the perfect view of the event from above. The Surya Nepal Jazzmandu stage has given a platform to unite and mix music from different cultures but this night explored Nepali tunes, giving it a fresh twist and showcasing Nepali culture with a hint of western influence.

'Jazzmandu falls between Dashain and Tihar every year,' said Navin Chettri, the artistic director behind Jazzmandu and the drummer of Cadenza Collective, on stage before opening the night with Malashree Dhun, a traditional tune played during Dashain. The evening came full circle with Bhalini, a song for Tihar, bringing the performance to a fitting close that reflected the festival's timing and spirit. This, according to Navin Chettri, has been a tradition since 21 years and one of his favorite days in the festival. The vocal lead for these songs was Jonisha Poudel, joined by Leona Berlin, Catia Werneck, and Femke Smit for 'Bhailini'.

For Jonisha Poudel, who returned to Nepal from Kolkata just for Jazzmandu, the night was special. 'It's been four years, and it's so fun,' she said after her performance. 'I was supposed to stay in Kolkata this year, but when I got the invitation, I got excited and came here. Collaborating with artists from around the world is amazing. I get to learn new things, because different artists have different qualities. The feeling is totally different from when we perform classical music.'

Between these performances was a set led by Catia Werneck, accompanied by Nepali instruments like the tabla and flute. The musicians shared easy smiles throughout, visibly immersed in the moment, it felt as if they were genuinely in love with the music they were creating.

In the audience, Sophia, 19, from New Zealand, who has been traveling around Kathmandu for three months, said she first heard about Jazzmandu from a friend she met here who is really into the music scene. 'I'm absolutely loving it,' she said. 'I was at Gokarna too, and I had to come back for this.'

Nearby, Jasper from Denmark couldn't contain his enthusiasm. 'Oh my gosh, I'm enjoying it so much, this is amazing,' he said, smiling. A frequent visitor to Nepal, he added that he discovered the event through Facebook.

The festival now heads toward its grand finale on October 15 at The Malla Hotel, where all participating artists will share the stage one last time for the Jazzmandu Finale. The closing night promises a vibrant mix of improvisation, collaboration, and celebration, a fitting end to a week that has brought together musicians from across the world and audiences from every corner of Kathmandu under the shared language of jazz.