The cultural capital of Maharashtra gears up to host the annual jazz festival for the very first time. International bands Hot Club De Norvege, François Bourassa Trio and Jeanne Rochette will perform at the fest

From Afro-American communities in Southern America to Pune's cultural platforms, jazz, as a musical genre that weaves magic as it expresses deep emotions through lilting melodies, is all set to enchant music lovers in the city.

The Pune Jazz Utsav '08 heralds the inclusion of this culturally vibrant city in the Jazz Utsav map of India. Pune also completes the Jazz Utsav triangle in the country. Being organized by Ishanya and Jazz Club of Pune, the Utsav, an annual affair in Delhi and Mumbai, will unfold its musical treasure for the first time in Pune this year. It will feature internationally renowned bands like Hot Club De Norvege from Norway, François Bourassa Trio and Jeanne Rochette from Canada apart from India's Jazz Junction.

Talking about Puneites' penchant for jazz, Ahmed Ebrahim, founder of the Pune Jazz Club says, "About seven years ago, very few people in Pune knew about jazz. But today, the number of enthusiasts has greatly increased. For international jazz artistes to perform in the city, you need to have a discerning audience and the fact that Pune has finally become a part of the Jazz Utsav circuit, speaks volumes about the increasing interest in this form of music."

Since the 1980s, when it was known as the Jazz Yatra, the festival has been one of the highpoints of the cultural calendar in Mumbai and Delhi. A three-day annual event, the cultural extravaganza witnesses national and international jazz musicians performing live and entertaining thousands of eager jazz fans. However, this year in Pune, the Utsav will be a single-day affair. "This year, out of the nine bands which will be performing in Delhi and Mumbai, three will be coming down to Pune for live performances. Since Pune is a new entrant, it will only be a single-day affair this year. However, if the response is good, then next year onwards, even Pune will host the festival over three days," informs Ebrahim.

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