Drum Till The Day You Die

“An insight into Lester Godinho”

BY Margherita Devi Terzi

Lester Godinho, a true Goan musician is probably one of Goa’s most experienced drummers who plays with many of India’s successful musicians. Now residing in Calangute, Lester grew up in the heart of Mumbai’s music scene. His father, Leslie Godinho was his real life role model is the essence of his musical inspiration. As a child Lester was very much inclined to music, and with the guidance of his Dad, Lester pursued music with a lot of passion and is today, a well known Drummer. Having played music for most of his life, it can be safely said that music is Lester’s life.

Lester explains to Goa Backstage his motivation to continuously improve and evolve in the music industry. “I am never really satisfied with what I play, I guess that drives my motivation” he says. So the constant dissatisfaction of ones work propels determination to do better, play harder and keep pushing the limits. Lester also tells Goa Backstage “the violin is another instrument that is very close to my heart.  As a child I played the violin and it has helped in my musical growth”.

Speaking of musical growth, the current system in Goa seems to curb the growth of all musicians. The 10pm sound restriction imposed a few years back has crippled the music scene in Goa. Lester Godinho expresses his opinion about this, “Authorities fist must give the public a proper clarification on what is considered as “loud” and adhere to it. As for me, the quality of music does not lie in the volume it is played at”.

The 10pm music restriction was released in 2005 under Environmental protection and Noise pollution Act, it states that ‘No one shall beat a drum or tom-tom or blow a trumpet or beat drum or sound any instrument or use any sound amplifier between 10.00 p.m. and 6.00 am’. It also states that ‘the peripheral noise level of privately owned sound system shall not exceed more than 5 dB (A)’. This concludes to say that any noise at all after 10pm above 5 dB (A) is by definition, breaking the law. Lester further adds, “For me, I personally feel the restriction is an infringement on my fundamental right to earn a livelihood as laid down in the Constitution”

The current music scene in Goa according to Lester is just hype. He says, “thanks to the media, we have hype, hype and more hype. Too many “empty” vessels trying to jump onto the band-wagon!” When asked what kind of change he would like to see in the current music scene in Goa, Lester states, “For me, the purest form of music is playing “live”.  Unfortunately, the word “live” has taken on a different meaning altogether today, musically, and people need to be made aware of it!”

It is probable that Lester knows what he is talking about as he has played with an array of musicians in and out of Goa, he says “ I have had the good fortune of playing with Indian and international musicians such as, Braz Gonsalves, Jazzy Joe Pereira, Louis Banks, Pam Crain, Gary Lawyer, Karl Peters, Sivamani, etc., besides, a whole lot of others in Bollywood and International musicians, too”.

Furthermore, Lester tells Goa Backstage that he is most inclined to playing Jazz, but also likes to play all types of music such as Classical, Rock, Funk, Latin, pop, Gospel. In regard to having an eclectic experience in music genres Lester reveals his current and future plans “It has always been my desire to do something in the field of Konkani music, and, I am presently working in that direction”

Being so experienced and having played with a few of India’s successful musicians, Goa Backstage asks Lester Godinho for a few pointers on how to be a good musician, he replies “ Listen to music, to other musicians and most importantly practice! Do not get depressed or carried away by what others say, always be your own judge!” Lastly Lester would like to advice all young aspiring musicians that “The ‘sky’ is the limit, follow your Heart, work hard and believe in yourself. Always keep an open mind as then you will keep learning and improving until the day you die”

HFT India's original Blues/Jazz fusion Band

HFT and their Acquired Senses

By MDT for Goa Backstage

Releasing their new Album Acquired Senses, High F***ing Times (otherwise commonly referred to HFT) is a whole class above the usual so-called Jazz-fusion Bands in India. HFT deliver sounds that ease you into a sunny afternoon daze, the easy blue jazz frequency of HFT are carefully crafted with love, devotion and technical expertise. This Band is pretty tight. As a fusion/blues/jazz band HFT has created a sound that is unique and showcases the kick-ass talents of India. The Bands inspiration draws from various sources globally and is assimilated into an original eclectic sound that is distinctively HFT. 

Based in Delhi, HFT is comprised of three well-travelled gentlemen with mean skills that take you on a melodic Journey to a land of soft breeze and resonate ease.

Guitarist Arjun Sen, one of India’s best-acclaimed musicians, has had an extensive music career since his early days back in the 80’s. Being part of the nations important bands such as “Great Society”, Arjun has and still continues to write scores for the entertainment industry. Being well traveled and experience Arjun brings a world-class sound to his Guitar. The sweet melodies, mad licks and rhythm enthrall harmonious notions that soothe your mind.

Lew Hilt, the one and only bassist in the nation that captivates and shakes the funky bones within you. Lew’s bass is Phat and swallows you whole into a thick lush sound, happy yet profound.  Also an artist and actor, Lew has been around since the scene began in Kolkata in the 70’s playing for bands such as Shiva and High. Lew has also featured in jazz bands such as, Karlton Kito, Louiz Banks and Braz Gonsalves to name a few. Having some killer skills, Lew has claimed a strong fan base nationwide. Hilt brings to HFT the funk; raw blues bass feel that provides the warm wholesome atmosphere to their sound.

Suchet Malhotra, the percussionist has a unique set-up in HFT. The ambient percussion, djembe, wooden bongos, cymbals and flamenco Cajon, fashion the “world Jazz” sound into HFT. Suchet plays an eclectic array of percussions such as Udu, root drum, table, darbouka, and frame drums to mention a few. Suchet’s mutlipercussion setups have been featured in orchestras and ensembles worldwide. Amphora’s drumcussion has been showcased in live concert stages, amphitheaters, and dance clubs. Suchet’s percussion is heartbeat to HFT’s rhythmic soul.

The trio amalgamated together, each with their own unique sounds and styles, gives combustion of a new and distinct jazz, blues fusion vibe to the Indian Music scene. Their improvisational skills are what make this band original; their music is open to inspiration of the spur of the moment. Their extreme talent is what allows one musician to feed off the other’s spontanious tunes, creating the improvisational attitude to feel as though the tune was indeed pre-written. HFT’s gigs are always slightly different from one another, and this very fact is what makes the band exciting.

Together HFT ignite a listener into a hazy dream of a laid back sunny afternoon that progresses into a starry night surprise. Elegance and panache, HFT is India’s most skilled, experienced and eclectic blues-jazz fusion band.

HFT in 2011 have been featured at the Bangalore Habba Jazz Festival, the Du Dubai Music festival, the opening for the Nashri tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir, The India Music week Conference and Habitat Centre in New Delhi. Apart from gallivanting playing their tunes around the Nation and UAE, HFT has had special performances in the smaller beachside clubs in Goa. Realizing that Goa, host a newer underground Live music scene, HFT have indeed showcased their music to the local and international crowd in Goa and hope to aspire younger local bands to get it together and make the Goa music scene virtually spin into a new wave of talent.

HFT, one of the nations most talented bands give to the world a classy, jazzy blues feel, that take you on musical marvels, yet still keep it real. 

International Jazz festival GOA 2012

Jazz ‘n’ Goa is the international Jazz festival Organized by Tara Travels and Services Pvt. Ltd. brings together musicians form around the world to create their jazz sounds here in Goa. The International Jazz festival is a breath of fresh Air to the music scene in the state. Goa has a deep interesting history in intern national music, since the Hippie movement in early 60’s and 70’s; Goa had been the underground destination for Hippies worldwide. This made Goa a melting pot of cultures and with culture comes an exchange of ideas, a way of life, art and of course Music.

The esoteric exchange of ideals, led to a massive music swap that was shared and absorbed by everyone. This assimilation of musical ideas and therefore crossed boundaries into other's musical influence. The brief history of Muscle Goa shows the initiation with live music, which then took a turn for mid 80’s electro synth, which furthermore morphed into psycadelic Trance. Jazz in Goa, is not a new thing. In fact acid jazz has a heavy influence on the now well known Goa Psy scene, however the notion of classical Jazz has lost its prominence in its original form and now in 2012 the International Jazz festival: Jazz ‘n’ Goa, held from March 7^th to March 31^st, gives jazz a chance to revive itself on the enigmatic shores of Goa.

Goa’s diversity attracts all kinds of music as well as all kinds of people with different tastes and preferences. The International Jazz festival showcases a revival of Jazz as well as a breath of fresh air in the music scene that has been under a dictatorship of trance for the past decade. The international Jazz festival celebrates 19 performances at Goa’s finest establishments featuring international artists from Russia and United States, Europe and India.

Jazz festival adds to Goa’s eclectic music scene and offers the audience something new other than trance.  Casa Vagator hosted the opening on March 7^th it featured the festival’s in house band and Emam and friends. Casa Vagator was the perfect setting to introduce the festival in Goa. The location encompassed everything unique to Goa, as it was the perfect setting for the opening a Jazz festival Casa Vagator offered a classy array of the melodious sweet sounds of Jazz, tropical drinks, Palm trees swaying against a blue purple sky of a typical march sunset on the beach. Simply put it resembled paradise. Jazz ‘n’ Goa was opened by the House band from Russia and was later handed over to Emam and Friends, who played a mystical set to encompass good vibes to the audience.

Speaking with Emam (tabla/ dumbak) form Emam and friends, MDT came to discover that Emam had been frequenting Goa for many years but had never preformed as part of an organized event. This time it allows him to not only perform for Goa, but also interact with the local and International musicians in their open Jam sessions after every show. MDT asked Emam on his perspective about the current Live music scene in Goa and Emams response was that there are too many cover bands which don’t allow the musicians to grow into their own sound. Emam states that more originality is needed in Goa on behalf of the local musicians to propel Goa into a world stage raising Goa’s music to an international level and bring in more world-class musicians into the scene.

The festival organized by Tara Travel and services in association with JazzGoa, have partnered with various establishments, one being Calangute Towers. While talking to Arindam Banerjee, Residential manager of Calangute towers, Travel Goa asked to how Goa can benefit form such a festival? Mr. Banerjee replied to something along the lines have that the jazz fest could benefit musicians, audience and establishments alike and offer something new to the people visiting and living in Goa. Talking to Ekaterina of Tara Travels it was explained that the idea came about to bring her jazz musicians friends from Russia to Goa to have international exposure and to also upgrade Goa's current music scene with professionally organized event to showcase award winning jazz musicians of Russia, Europe, USA and India. This event will bring tighter international and local musicians together to deliver quality music improvised with elements of the Goa ambience.

Ekaterina further stated that this could turn out to be an annual event and could possibly grow into a larger enterprise that will gain recognition in the international and local music scene. Ekaterina aspires to make this international festival a platform to expose true talent form world-class musicians and perhaps change the image of Goa as only a Trance destination.

The Festival’s objective is to start a new page in the History of Goa’s Music. Jazz coinsures will discover an eclectic array of improvisational music such as, Classical and modern Jazz, funk, Bossa Nova, Fusion with Indian and Arabic roots. The festival will also bring acid Jazz, with elements of Hip-Hop, Electro, House and of course Trance. Each and every show will be different and showcase different genres within the sphere of Jazz Music. Each performance will offer local and traveling musicians the chance to jam with each other. The In house band comprises of award winning musicians from Russia such as Philipp Meshcheryakov, Janna Fadeeva, Sergei Kuzmishchev, Vladislav Lyashchuk, Ilya Zyryanov, and will feature Emam and friends and Kundalini Airport.

Jazz today will bring together musicians form all over the globe, to once again share their talent and exchange their musical ideals here in Goa. The musicians will have a chance to experience India, the local musicians will have a chance to showcase their talent and the listener will have a unique opportunity to enjoy the spontaneous of Jazz music played in Goa’s establishments such as; Casa Vagator, Club Fresh, Curlies, Saturday Night Market, Stonehouse, O’pescador, Resort Rio, La Cabana, JazzInn, Our place, Zeebop, Hippies, Liiliput, Teso, F1 Beach Club, Calangute Towers and finally the Grand session at Bliss and Poco Loco. So Jazz Lovers, Feast your love for music with the International Jazz Festival that will surely bring a new wave of music to Goa in 2012.