Sunday, September 25, 2011

INDIA, Goa: Jazz Junction on tour

Ross Eustis, a twenty two year old American trumpet player brought the house down at the Goa Marriott resort's AZ UR lounge bar when he recently took the stage with the house band Jazz Junction.With a trumpet as his only companion, Ross began his world wide  journey earlier this year, to explore the “Transnational Dialects of Jazz” as a 2011 recipient of a prestigious Thomas J. Watson Fellowship.

 He got in touch with bassplayer Colin D'Cruz through the internet and expressed his desire to come down to Goa and perform with his band. He landed in Mumbai on a Thursday and immediately travelled to Goa to reach in time for Jazz Junction's regular Friday night session at the Marriott resort. Goa's jazz enthusiasts that were in the house that night got an aural treat of a lifetime with Ross taking off from the word go, sounding as though he had been playing with Colin's band all his life.

Singer Yvonne Gonsalves, pianist Xavier Peres, drummer Lester Godinho and Colin himself seemed to be having a blast themselves with the inspiring guest onstage and continued playing one straight long set without the customary break between sets. Watch out for more international jazz virtuosos being featured by Jazz Junction right through the coming season.