When classical met contemporary

The evening started off with Hyderabad’s very own Ella Fitzgerald, Shakila Kundu’s bold voice wafting through the November skies with city ensemble ‘Jazzed Friends’ performing, followed by solo guitarist Ujjal Kumar Saha from Kolkata – both performances served as an appetizer before the highlight, Indo-German band ‘Roots & Shoots’ came up on stage.

When Indian classical ragas culminate with contemporary Western melodies, the result is sure to charm an audience. The pieces featured each instrument, sometimes like a pleasant clash between the two forms, with improvisations that defeated structure. The first day of the First Hyderabad Jazz Festival ended with an encore!