So I find myself at the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival with some of the finest jazz and blues talent from around the world. Rang­ing from boggie-woogie to blues-rock, from samba to swing and soul, this festival has it all! The venues themselves are spectacular, from the opulence of the Festival Theater to hip jazz clubs and unique venues such as the Spiegeltent. Highlights of the event include artists (among many more) such as Carol Kidd, The Average White Band, Jools Holland, Rumba de Bodas, Blind Boy Paxton, Maggie Bell, and Bachelors of Jazz. A particular favorite of mine, Earl Thomas, is one of the most import­ant blues figures of this decade. This year he brought his new ven­ture—gospel music—for the very first time. Using the enthusiastic Edinburgh crowd as a ‘sounding board’, Thomas was moved to tears when the crowd gave him an ongo­ing standing ovation. This brought home that his gospel combined with blues would go down well in his upcoming concerts in the States.

 

On stage with Thomas was an international band, including Amer­icans and Scottish musicians. In fact Thomas weaved an interesting tale of how his grandfather several gen­erations back was a Scottish slave-owner, while is grandmother was a slave, and together they had 18 chil­dren. A story of love across the-then very dangerous color divide.

 

My thoughts turn to the music scene in Kathmandu which ranges from jazz, rock, western orchestral, to eastern classical, to Nepali pop, and a version of Korean pop. Those of you who are regular readers of the Annapurna Express will be well aware of Sunny Mahat’s excellent reviews of the music scene in the country.

 

But keeping on the jazz and blues theme: when Jazzmandu first started, some 16 years ago, few Nepalis came along to this week-long jazz festival involving interna­tional and local musicians. Word soon got out, however, and with the opening of the Kathmandu Jazz Con­servatory in 2007, jazz came of age in Nepal. Unlike in the West, there is no pretentiousness among young Nepali music lovers. If they like it, then they will listen, and appreciate. And many do indeed love jazz.

 

Today Jazzmandu (this year on November 1-6) has grown into a large and vibrant event attracting audi­ences from all walks of life. And, like the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festi­val, Jazzmandu has something that will suit the musical tastes of most. In addition, Jazzmandu retains its Nepali heritage and offers a musical flavor of Nepal and encourages vis­iting musicians to join hands with local traditional musicians in a cele­bration of Nepali culture.

 

Before then however will be the Kathmandu Blues and Roots festival on September 29 in Tangalwood, Kathmandu. This third event will again help raise money for those in need. This year participating bands, including The Midnight Riders, Spirit X Illusion, Newaz, Mukti and Revival, and from the US, The Well, will be joined by a local band from somewhere in the country.

 

Through uploading on the Blues and Roots Facebook page, bands will be judged through the number of likes, with final input from the organizers and judges. The winner will be given the opportunity to be on stage with these musicians during the festival. Included in the winning package is an all-expenses paid trip to Kathmandu (for those outside the valley) and a record deal with Skathi Records. Skathi is owned by Satish Sthapit, one of the found­ing organizers, along with Roshan Kansakar, of the event.

 

So, while listening to jazz and blues with the backdrop of the spec­tacular Edinburgh Castle, I’m look­ing forward to listening to similar sounds within the Kathmandu Val­ley this autumn when the Roots and Blues Festival and Jazzmandu once again transcend cultural boundar­ies, spreading the message of peace and compassion through music.