KATHMANDU:

The Surya Classic Jazzmandu 2006 is scheduled to kick off on October 11. Jazz musicians are coming in from across the globe like from countries as diverse as Venezuela and Israel. Our own musicians are all set to make some good music with these international musicians.

Stupa needs no introduction. A Kathmandu band, it comprises seasoned musicians from various bands. They have come together in this project to experiment with and experience jazz and other genres. The band is Yuvraj Chhettri (Vikku) on guitar and vocals, Bimal Gurung on guitar, Mariano Abello (from Spain) on saxophone, Nirakar Yakthumba on bass, and Sanjay Shrestha on drums.

Stupa plays jazz standards in their own progressive style and performs original material.

The band’s vocalist/guitarist Vikku was the lead member of Rusty Nails, Darjeeling’s original rock band. Nirakar and Sanjay are members of Nepal’s most famous rock band 1974 AD. Bimal is back from Norway where he spent five years studying music and specialising on guitar making and sound reinforcement.

Stupa recently backed renowned New York jazz vocalist Sachal Vasandani during his Kathmandu tour.

Kutumba is a folk instrumental ensemble, an amateur group of six friends from Kathmandu. Having come together for the preservation of their culture and art, Kutumba wishes to spread love and joy of Nepali folk music. Self motivated and self driven, Kutumba is a group with their own unique sound and vision.The six members have different roots and backgrounds in music. Kutumba is the harmony of traditional roots, culture and new sounds, and is all about bringing together traditional folk tunes and instruments with new and improvised sounds and ideas.

Kutumba is Arun Manandhar, Pavit Maharjan, Raju Maharjan, Rasil Palanchoke, Rubin Sherstha and Siddharth Maharjan. — HNS