Just when i thought things couldn't get worse for Mumbai's jazz scene, things went and got verse! Dom Moraes presented his poetry read by Denzil Smith, accompanied by Steve Siqueira on keyboards. I've heard of painting with jazz now poetry reading with jazz, whats next? Cooking with jazz! And why not? Jazz after all is the only all encompassing art form that embraces all other forms of music, dance, drama, physics, chemistry, biology and other vices. Trafalgar Chowk, Bandra's new dining destination was the scene of the rhyme for Mumbai's latest jazz avatar since 'Not Just Jazz by the Bay' that used to be 'Jazz by the Bay' decided on yet another name change to 'Just not Jazz by the Bay'. There were mixed reactions from people present at TC to catch the jazzy side of Dom. Some people found verses without choruses too monotonous especially since Denzil read in a boring monotone that didn't sound like Louis Armstrong or Al Jarreau. One clued in dude informed the DJ that rap is passe
and lounge music should be playing in the house. One couple wined about how the whole idea was too cheesey while attacking the free wine and cheese that was going around. To each their own i guess, i personally felt Dom's poetry breathed some life into a dead live music scene in Mumbai, the keyboard player wasn't miming, he was simply 'cooking' and ahem... 'smoking' as well.
http://www.justjazz.8m.com