Lahore: Pakistan’s Sachal Studios Orchestra has topped iTunes jazz charts in America and Britain with its interpretation of Dave Brubeck’s Take Five that blends classical violins with sitars, tablas and other South Asian instruments, according to British media reports.
It’s the first time Jazz is being played in Pakistan in a big way since Jazz greats like Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington and other jazz legends performed in the country in the 1950s. Brubeck, 90, told reporters that it is “the most interesting” version of Take Five he’s ever heard.
Sachal Orchestra’s first album, “Sachal Jazz,” with interpretations of tracks like “The Girl from Ipanema” and “Misty,” and of course “Take Five” is available on iTunes. It’s been produced, financed and directed by a wealthy British Pakistani jazz enthusiast Izzat Majeed.
Inspired by the Abbey Road Studios in London, Majeed and his partner Mushtaq Soofi have worked for the last six years with Christoph Bracher, a scion of a German musician’s family, to design and set up Sachal Studios in Lahore where their albums have been recorded.
In addition to Sachal’s jazz interpretation, there are now other signs of revival of uniquely Pakistani music. An example is Coke Studio. Sponsored by Coca Cola Pakistan, Coke Studio is a one-hour show that features musicians playing a distinct blend of fusion music that mixes traditional and modern styles. Helped by the media boom in Pakistan, the show has had dramatic success since it was launched three years ago. The popular show has crossed the border and inspired an Indian version this year.
Here’s a link to a brief video clip of Sachal orchestra performance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLF46JKkCNg
