Kathmandu:

On the verdant landscape of the Gokarna forest, the atmosphere was still festive. The Forest Golf Resort was glowing with festive lights and diyas making it look perfect for some medieval ceremony, as the cultural troupes danced to the soothing classical melodies of Sukarma. The backyard was teeming with people amidst bonfires that weren’t exactly, a perfect foil to the stinging chill of a November evening. Still, anxiously awaiting the arrival of Jazz maestros, spectators were unwilling to yield to their temptation and accept the invitation of their warm quilts.

While, Sukarma, for the better part, stole the show at Jazz Bazaar, with their redefined Nepali folk and classical music, Nepali Band Karma Avalanche, that won the contest for ‘Jazz

for the Next Generation’, made their stunning performance as an idyllic band to lead the next generation of Jazz musicians.

Next in the line was Dimple, accompanied by Binod on flute, who cannot be better described than a prodigy, reminiscing memories of the mountains amidst which Binod grew up. Fuelling the festive atmosphere Cadenza followed with another spree of knock-out performance that made the crowd go hysterical with their version of Afro funk and Nepjazz and fusion music.

And the crowd shed their scruples to show their appreciation grooving excitedly to the music.

The international bands Solid!, Groove Suppa along with musicians Mariano, Mort and Bastian followed later forcing audiences to speculate on what more to expect at the Jazz festival at Yak and Yeti on November 7.