Despite the growing tensions between Pakistan and United States, the visit by double bass players of a New York-based jazz group, Ari Roland Jazz Quartet, to Pakistan, is a blessing in disguise, as they performed in the federal capital on Saturday night, promoting people-to-people contact while using art and culture as a tool.
The US embassy in Islamabad in association with the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) arranged the colourful event at the PNCA Auditorium and dedicated it to peace, as part of a cultural exchange programme. The Ari Roland took centre stage along with the Pakistani musical instruments of sitar, tabla and dhol in a show where a gentle blending of instruments and symphony shook not only the confines of the auditorium, but also its eclectic audience consisting both youngsters and adults, media personalities, diplomats and other music lovers of the twin cities.
That may be the reason the band had an American Muslim performer, Zaid Nasser, playing alto saxophone. The guests while thronging the concert cheered, clapped and welcomed the four American musicians – Ari Roland, Zaid Nasser, Chris Byars and Keith Gregory Balla. They also applauded the local musicians – Aamir Hussain, Mohammad Ajmal and Mohammad Salman.
Ari Roland, the band leader, on the occasion gave the most pleasant and delightful music notes, tapping and thumping on his guitar. Roland took the audience on a tour through the ‘golden age ‘of loud jazz music, which owes its origin to blacks, famous for possessing strong breath and for powerful play on saxophones and other blow instruments.
Among the many soulful instrumentals that the quarter performed, the cover of Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” was one of the highlights. The Pakistani musicians, on the other hand, fought the ‘instrumental war’ with the US counterparts equally well. They joined in sangat (togetherness with American guests) and presented a number of songs among them ‘Piyar Nahin Hai Sur Se Jisko’.
Four other songs were presented in a volley of soothing eastern musical instruments with the loud powerful notes of saxophone, alto saxophone and pow-wow drums, which is another instrument native to the Americans. The beauty of it was that the Americans and Pakistani musicians performed in unison, extending the range of fusion. An energising moment came with the rendition of Ali Azmat’s famous song ‘Hai Jazba Junoon To Himmat Na Haar’ which rocked all guests, forcing the capacity crowd stand on their feet.
Richard Hogland, the American Charge de Affairs, termed the event as ‘good part of diplomacy’, saying, “Because Jazz is the only form of music that America has contributed to the fusion of interest and people for a very long time to come.” He has many music and theatre projects in his mind to tour Pakistan in the future. Similar groups will be sponsored in the United States to showcase Pakistani culture where a Gandhara art exhibition is currently going on and has inspired rave reviews there.
Wajiha Fatima, while hosting the concert, said, “At this moment, we particularly need such grand shows ‘to soothe our nerves’.” According to Ari Roland, he found the Pakistani people and Pakistani instrumentalists ‘fantastic’. “All through the musical evening we found interactive audience participation enjoying the gentle blending of instruments and symphony, since the focus of the musical evening was on peace.”
The American musicians were here in Pakistan on a cultural exchange programme sponsored by the US embassy. They have also performed at Karachi and Lahore. “Such events would surely mitigate the ongoing tension between Washington and Islamabad over diplomatic issues and enhance bilateral ties using art and culture as a tool,” said Osama Pervaiz, a young music lover.
According to the US embassy, the quartet is in Pakistan from September 15 to 28. In Islamabad, the quartet will collaborate with the Pakistani band “Fuzon” in creating a US-Pakistani friendship song that will be premiered at a live show next week in Islamabad.
