SWINGIN' SUNSETS

SAHANA IYER BOOGIES HER WAY THROUGH THE SAND DUNES, AND INTO THE WORLD OF JAZZ, AS THE DEBUT JODHPUR JAZZ SAFARI BREAKS IN A NEW KIND OF HOLI

- SAHANA IYER

There is something about a pink sunset bleeding into the blue city. I stood on the highest sand dune in Osian, drink in hand, waiting for the first performance of the ‘Colour Me Pink’ Jodhpur Jazz Safari to begin. It was the only distraction from the seductive view before me—a darkening, drowsy Thar Desert.

I like to think of my musical taste as a well-blended cocktail. Thanks to the polar opposite preferences of my family and friends, it ranges from Kishore Kumar’s emphatic yodels to Louis Armstrong’s gruff crooning. Naturally, when I first heard of a holi jazz festival in a state adored for its folk music, I had to see it for myself.

Without much ado, I packed my bags and parcelled myself to Jodhpur. After the unfortunate combination of a heavy lunch and a two-hour drive, we reached our first venue—Reggie Singh’s Camel Camp in the ancient town of Osian, 69 kilometres beyond the main city. one of its regal denizens, clad in yellow, greeted us with a friendly lick—its name, coincidentally, was Royal.

Our murmurs were broken by the upbeat rhythm of the guitar and drums, which didn’t bother sticking to classic flows