It might be tough to hold a Jazz chord on a steel string and match the sounds with a flute. Not so much when guitarist Daniel Marques syncs a marathon of melodies with flautist Mark Alban Lotz
It might be tough to hold a Jazz chord on a steel string and match the sounds with a flute. Not so much when guitarist Daniel Marques syncs a marathon of melodies with flautist Mark Alban Lotz. The duo met at a musical outing in China two years ago and decided to merge harmonies. Their forte lies in Brazilian Jazz that evokes emotions from the ghettos to the football fields. They are currently on an India tour, unrolling the broad timbre and vibrant compositions from the South American realm.
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Both believe the word 'Jazz' is more brand than genre now. "It is a trademark that represents the improvised music developed in the 20th century. The Americans were most interested in the genre and spread the concept," says Marques.
Choro, Samba and Bossa Nova encompass Brazilian sounds, where Jazz plays an integral part. "The instrumentation is based on bass and drums. Bossa Nova has its repertoire; the singing is soft and sophisticated. Some beautiful songs also emerge with words used by football fans to tease each other during matches," he informs.
Being from Brazil, Marques learnt the subject through his roots. Lotz, known for his improvising skills, didn't take much time to learn the melodies.
Daniel Marques, guitarist
They bagged the India tour through a workshop in Nepal. "We were teaching in the city of Patan and being close to India, it was the best opportunity," says Lotz, who also plays the contrabass flute that is two octaves lower. "India is a musically rich country. My all-time favourite is Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia," he adds. While Lotz has performed in India before, Marques is yet to explore the sounds. "I have performed only at a guitar festival in Kolkata. But I love the energy here; it is a lively country, like Brazil," he suggests. One of Lotz's early memories in India is that of a concert in Goa. "I performed with the tabla and a sitar for the first time. It was truly horrifying, but I managed," he recalls.
The duo will start their recital with solo sets leading to the collaborative segment. One can expect tunes like Tontera (Frevo) and Insensatez from Marques's set. Lotz will be playing tunes that are already popular through his YouTube channel; Dear Moth and Folhas Secas are a few. Will they play any rendition of a known number? "It depends. A well known classic can be a good vehicle to present a personal reading of it," reasons Lotz, adding, "Jazz is vivid and in Asia; unlike in Europe, people have the hunger for new music. European audiences tend to be informed." Lotz polished his Indian music skills through concerts with Sharat Chandra Srivastava (violin) and Ustad Chhote Rahimat Khan (sitar). Daniel's album, O Espantalho/ The Scarecrow, was one of the best-sellers last year.
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