Bengaluru turns musical melting pot this weekend

Hackout at ZLB23

November 29, 8 pm onwards

ZLB23, A Kyoto Speakeasy at The Leela Palace, Old Airport Road

Entry: Reservations via +91 9632060433

HackOut! is an Italian experimental jazz trio, who are “bass-less” in that they experiment without that low-end. Established in 2019 at the F Venezze Conservatory of Rovigo, HackOut! comprises Manuel Caliumi on alto sax, Luca Zennaro on guitar and Riccardo Cocetti on drums.

On the back of releasing their new album Cortado, the band are touring India for the first time, with a stop in Bengaluru at ZLB23, housed within The Leela Palace. Their India tour is a quick five-city run of shows, which kicked off in New Delhi on November 27. A description for their tour says, “Their repertoire includes compositions that highlight the personality of each musician by seeking the balance between harmonic structures and radical improvisation, acoustic and electric timbres.”

Guillaume Barraud Quartet

November 29 and 30, 9.30 pm onwards

Windmills, Whitefield

Entry: ₹2,000 (seating), ₹750 (standing) via windmills-india.com

Also arriving in the city as part of a larger India tour, Paris-based flautist Guillaume Barraud and his quartet will perform at Windmills on November 29 and 30. No stranger to India, Barraud has honed his understanding of the bansuri, training under Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and has worked on several Indo-jazz collaborations in the past. He lived in Mumbai between 2001 and 2008, when he learned under Chaurasia.

Now, with his quartet, Barraud is joined by guitarist Tam De Villiers, bassist Guillaume Ruelland and drummer Maxime Zampieri. A description for their Bengaluru concerts states, “Barraud’s distinctive approach, initially crafted on the guitar and expanded for the bansuri, results in an immersive sonic experience. This performance is a must-attend for music enthusiasts seeking innovative jazz infused with global influences.”

Gini

November 30, 5 pm onwards

The Hub, Infantry Road

Entry: ₹999, via Insider.in

Dehradun-origin and Mumbai-based singer-songwriter Gini has the distinction of being among the few indie artists who are currently balancing big stages alongside intimate venues. For Bengaluru, it is the latter that she has chosen. Part of her Cozy India Tour, Gini will perform on November 30 at The Hub, off MG Road.

Gini
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Best known for openhearted and deep songs such as ‘Aasaan’, ‘Ansuna’ and ‘Chaukhat’, expect a carefully-curated gig atmosphere. The limited-capacity show will include not just the songs, but the stories behind them, as shared by Gini. A press release says, “Gini is bringing her signature warmth and musical storytelling to cities across India. Inspired by her roots in Dehradun, Gini’s music has connected with audiences nationwide, and her tour aims to foster that bond in a cozy, live atmosphere.”

Kantha ft TM Krishna and the Jogappas, Jatayu, Bollyjazz

November 30 and December 1, 5.30 pm onwards

Freedom Park, Seshadri Road

Entry: Free, register via kantha.blrhubba.in

This weekend also marks the start of Kantha – Sounds of Asia, the music festival hosted as part of BLR Hubba across the city. Kantha, for its part, will be presented at Freedom Park for two weeks. Starting proceedings on November 30 at Freedom Park is singer-songwriter Ditty aka Aditi Veena, Surat-origin experimental folk-rockers The Tapi Project and singer-composer Sneha Khanwalkar presenting a specially curated performance titled “Womaniya,” a reference to her song from the cult movie Gangs of Wasseypur.

Ditty
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

On December 1, Kantha will host another curated performance — TM Krishna and the Jogappas, alongside Chennai Carnatic-informed jazz act Jatayu and New Delhi’s favourite Bollywood-blending jazz act, Bollyjazz. An event description from Kantha says, “This performance is a unique experiment between TM Krishna, among the greatest living Carnatic vocalists, and the Jogappas, a transgender community of musicians in Karnataka. By presenting Carnatic music alongside them, TM Krishna has begun a rare conversation between people who are far removed and art forms that belong to the two spectral ends of society.”

The Tapi Project
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement