“When people come to see me play, they are not seeing me, they are seeing the gift that God has given me”: Jesus Molina

In June 2023, Colombian jazz pianist Jesús Molina walked onto the NCPA stage, mesmerized one and all with his music and walked straight into our hearts. Now two years later, he was back on the same stage, with a brand new crew, bringing on guitarist Rock Choi, bassist Alex Polydoroff and drummer Cain Daniel.

Thai Spice - Pang

Banyan Tree’s World Jazz Festival was back for its 5th Edition, this time visiting 5 cities in India, bringing in a fusion of jazz influences from Brazil, Thailand, The Netherlands, Spain, Italy and South Africa, where borders blur and jazz takes over.

The variety of sounds of the santoor is like traveling the world: Dawda Jobarteh

Banyan Tree’s ‘Shivji – The Journey Continues’ returned for its third consecutive year - as an ode to the memory of Padma Vibhushan Pt. Shivkumar Sharma. This year like always you had Shivkumarji’s son and disciple Rahul Sharma collaborate with Gambian musician Dawda Jobarteh for an Indo - African Fusion presentation. Dawda plays the 21 stringed Kora, an indigenous West African instrument.

You can get better at making music, if you demand more: Sir Mark Elder

The final concert of the Spring 2025 season of the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI) culminated with a performance on 15th February by Sir Mark Elder, one of Britain’s most acclaimed conductors, performing the works of Weber, Schumann and Beethoven.

The Blues Man = Alvon Johnson

The NCPA Soulful Blues Festival back for its third edition and promised to bring in the crowds to watch three great performers. The three day all American lineup featured Detroit’s ‘Queen of the Blues’ – Thornetta Davis, award winning singer Tia Carroll, and Alvon Johnson regarded as the ‘King of the Blues’ and the ‘Ambassador of the Blues’ in Russia.

Quincy Jones was my biggest influence: Ibrahim Maalouf

Lebanese-born French trumpeter and composer Ibrahim Maalouf has collaborated with various music artists over the years, including his Grammy nominated work with Angelique Kidjo. Maalouf blends jazz, classical, and his forte of Arabic traditions. With nineteen albums to his credit, and more to come, there’s no stopping Maalouf from creating music that he loves.

My parents recognized that I had a gift for music: Matthew Whitaker

At just 23 years of age, pianist Matthew Whitaker has not let his visual disability come in his way of becoming a professional jazz pianist. Today, the masterful player has traveled around the world and performed for the very first time at the NCPA International Jazz Festival 2024 in November 2024.

The Musical World of Israeli pianist Darya Mosenzon

Tel Aviv pianist Darya Mosenzon began her career as a classical pianist and moved to Moroccan and Algerian music. Darya performed at Mumbai Piano Day on Saturday 28th September 2024 at the Tata Theatre, NCPA. The 34 year old musician who only recently released her first self - titled EP ‘Darya’, discusses her early days as a musician, pianist and composer.

Indian Opera comes alive: Darwin Prakash

The renowned ‘Operalia’ came to India for the very first time. Hosted by the NCPA at the prestigious Jamshed Bhabha auditorium, the competition is the brainchild of living legend Spanish tenor Placido Domingo. The annual event has brought some of the best voices ever, since the competition began in 1993.

Boy band Blues: The Wanted

The Wanted have all the ingredients of a boy band. Good looks, good melodies and above all, music that would make you cuddle up or jump onto the dance floor. As is with boy bands, the one thing you can expect them talking about is about love, love and more love. The boys of the Wanted harmonize well, their vocals are pretty amazing.