Kathmandu, October 11
Thamel came alive on Thursday evening as Surya Nepal Jazzmandu 2025 continued with its much-anticipated Valley Jams series. Spread across three venues; Jazz Upstairs in Lazimpat, Electric Pagoda in Thamel, and The Baha in Sanepa; the night offered audiences a chance to experience a mix of jazz, funk, soul, and global rhythms.
At Electric Pagoda, the vibe was electric but easygoing. The open-air setting, dimly lit by warm lights, buzzed with chatter and laughter as people ordered drinks and snacks. The crowd was a mix of locals and foreigners, some seated at tables, others on the carpet laid out in front, moving to the beat. The seating eventually turned to a dance floor, music thumping through the speakers, people swaying, and the night air carrying the rhythm across Thamel's narrow lanes.
Cadenza Collective, joined by Australian saxophonist Nick Aggs, opened the night with their distinctive blend of jazz, Afro-funk, and Nepali folk influences. The collaboration, long in the making, has become a Jazzmandu staple. "It's my sixth time performing in Nepal for Jazzmandu, and I love it," said Aggs, enjoying the next performance after the set. "I've known Navin and Pravin since 1999, we're like brothers! I feel very blessed to keep coming back."
Cadenza's Pravin Chettri admitted he felt sleepy before the show but the high-energy performance quickly changed that. "Now I'm really active and enjoying it," he laughed. "My favorite tune was the new song, Groove Selo. It's our favorite one to play." Guitarist Rajat Rai added, "Playing with Nick is such a blessing. He's so much senior to me so I feel very lucky. He is an exceptional artist."
The Catia Werneck Quartet followed, closing the night with smooth Brazilian rhythms and flowing forró grooves that brought a new pulse to the courtyard.
At the gate earlier, Kamana, 26, from Kathmandu, had said she was expecting "some really good music and a good time", and she got exactly that. Another regular attendee, Natasha, who has been coming to Jazzmandu for years, said, "It's not just about the music, it's about people coming together and creating something beautiful. The musicians only make that kind of music once they're here, and that's the beauty of it."
By the end of the night, the air at Electric Pagoda felt charged and content, a space where strangers danced shoulder to shoulder, the music fading but the energy lingering, perfectly summing up what Surya Nepal Jazzmandu is all about.
Up next, on October 13, Surya Nepal Jazzmandu moves to Eden in Jhamsikhel for Sounds of Acid Jazz, an evening dedicated to R&B, soul, and nu-jazz. The night will feature mohs. from Switzerland and Germany's Leona Berlin, promising a mix of smooth grooves, rich vocals, and genre-bending sounds that bring the festival's contemporary edge to a close-knit, late-night setting.
