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Jammed up
PHOTO: MURALI KUMAR K.
OFF KEY When will they jam?
Five years ago, I was privileged to experience a magical event while meeting Gopal and Geetha Navale in my hometown of Seattle, USA. On the very day of our meeting, we were able to produce three tracks for my album, A Man Out Standing In His Field. I was finally able to visit Bangalore to perform in one of the largest open mics in the world (and possibly the largest grass-roots open mic in the world), The Freedom Jam. A musical expression of freedom, free from the constraints of corporations and the `mainstream'. Where musicians are able to present their souls to the world via the language we know the best, music.
But after travelling to the other side of the world, I find that times are not so good. The Freedom Jam cannot be, due to security fears! It seems so tragic that freedom often fights freedom, and sometimes we confuse freedom with security.
I must say though that Bangalore has welcomed me with open arms. This seems a glorious place in a glorious time, a time for a free India to perform on the world's stage. Many seem so optimistic about their future, so willing to pull together with many voices, yet sounding like one voice, ever-growing as each individual adds his own voice to the harmony. So much talent is here to create and be heard.
I sincerely hope the powers-that-be relent and allow such a marvellous event to continue. In our democracies we cherish the freedom of speech; how about the freedom to sing?
Robert Wright
On email
No freedom
We have been catalysing Independence Day celebrations with the Freedom Jam, the free music festival, for the last 10 years. These gatherings, over the years, have evolved into a mecca for musicians from all over the country and abroad. However, for the last two years the police are not permitting these celebrations, citing reasons like heightened security threat perception.
Prohibiting voluntary celebrations of Indpendence by the citizens while at the same time allowing orchestrated police-politician celebrations on Parade Grounds is hypocritical. One wonders if it is not the duty of the police force to ensure freedom to its citizens to celebrate Independence Day peacefully.
The Freedom Jam is a free music movement that has its roots in the '80s when musicians used to gather every Sunday on the Music Strip — the rock behind Queen Victoria in Cubbon Park and performed for free. This was revived in the 50th anniversary of freedom in the form of the Freedom Jam.
With a monthly gathering of musicians of all styles, performing free and regularly every first Sunday for the last 10 years now, and an annual mammoth gathering on the eve of Indpendence, this music movement has taken root and is now an integral part of Bangalore's creative traditions.
It is sad that in spite of having people's support — a huge peace-loving audience of over 10,000 music lovers, artistic support from all over India and abroad, over 50 groups playing Carnatic to contemporary music, financial support in the form of corporate sponsorship, we did not have the freedom to stage the 10th Freedom jam.
Perhaps we need to reschedule the event to Gandhi Jayanti and appeal to the memory of the Father of the Nation to grant us true Independence. As of now we do not have a venue to stage the 2006 Freedom Jam. We need help to continue this unique initiative and request those who can to help us find a place in the centre of the city where musicians and music lovers can freely gather periodically and share the joy of music.
Gopal Navale
Director
Guruskool
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