At the Radisson Resort Temple Bay, Mamallapuram, the Dutch Saskia Laroo band added subtle musical notes to the sea's slow rhythm at a jazz concert.
The band put up an authentic and eclectic performance, blending mythic songs such as ‘Georgia on my mind' or ‘The girl from Ipanema' and their own compositions with verve.
In 1994, Saskia Laroo, singer and trumpet player, formed the band, originally called The Laroo Colour, and recorded her first album ‘It's Like Jazz'. The other members in the band are Warren Byrd on the keyboard, Alexander Beets, the saxophonist, Phaedra Kwant at the bass, Arno Van Nieuwenhuize on the drums and MC Firestorm, the rapper.
The band from Amsterdam is a multi-national unit which juggles contemporary sounds, rap vocals and conventional jazz music, rife with groovy rhythms and exciting solos.
In Chennai, the band played tender and classical jazz, infused with fresh and surprising rap, hallmarks of the Saskia Laroo Band.
Rhythmic innovations and colourful harmonic perceptions, punctuated by interludes in tasteful dynamics, proved how jazz could be varied and versatile.
After Chennai, the band performs in Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Baroda.
