Jodhpur RIFF 2015 Returns in its Ninth Year with Two Grammy-Winning Instrumentalists on the Lineup

Once a year, around the brightest full moon night, accomplished musicians from different parts of the world – as far and wide as Rio de Janeiro, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Ndioum in Senegal, only last year – arrive in Jodhpur to jam, collaborate and perform with local Rajasthani artistes. This five-day affair, held against the backdrop of the majestic Mehrangarh Fort, is known as the Jodhpur RIFF or the Rajasthan International Folk Festival. It enjoys the patronage of royalty, Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Marwar-Jodhpur, and a rock legend, Sir Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones. But what makes this festival truly special, beyond its illustrious credentials, is its devotion towards recognizing and celebrating local talent. The Jodhpur RIFF provides a platform to Rajasthani folk musicians to showcase their art to an international audience besides providing them with a means to earn a livelihood. In the nine years of its existence, RIFF has encouraged and enabled acts such as the Manganiyar troupe and Bhanwari Devi to widen their scope and seek out more mainstream platforms.This year, Jodhpur RIFF features two Grammy-winning instrumentalists on its lineup – flautist and composer Wouter Kellerman and bassist Yossi Fine. Spanish harmonica genius Antonio Serrano, Celtic fusion band Shooglenifty, Scottish jazz musicians Brian Molley Quartet, roots reggae act from Ghana Papa Julius and Zion Nexus, and Finnish fiddle duo Emilia Lajunen and Suvi Oskala, will be performing alongside Indian vocalists Bhanwari Devi, Anwar Khan Manganiyar and Barkat Khan Manganiyar, Sumitra Devi, thumri singer Suchismita Das, maand singer Parveen Sabrina Khan, and Delhi band The Ska Vengers.The Jodhpur RIFF was conceptualized as a non-profit partnership project by two distinguished heritage trusts, namely the Mehrangarh Museum Trust and Jaipur Virasat Foundation. Divya Kumar Bhatia, festival director Jodhpur RIFF, who dons an additional hat of an actor (“Delhi Belly”, “Ship of Theseus”), has been curating the festival since its debut in 2007. Under his guidance the festival has established its credentials as an earnest podium for roots music from around the world. It has also been endorsed by UNESCO as a “Peoples’ Platform for Creativity and Sustainable Development”.Running from October 23 to October 27, 2015, the festival is set to once more turn the quaint city of Jodhpur into a cultural crucible, with an itinerary buzzing with music, narrations, dance forms and talks. The highlights of the festival remain the dawn and midnight concerts, a concept pioneered by Bhatia at the Jodhpur RIFF.Blouin Artinfo speaks to Divya Bhatia about the upcoming festival:How did you get involved with organizing this festival, coming from an acting background?Music was my first love, long before acting. I also have a music background in percussion. I have the equivalent of an M.A. in Tabla; and played the tabla, cajones and congas in a jazz band for a couple of years in the U.K.I was already the festival and artistic director of Jaipur Virasat Foundation when I was asked to commit to Jodhpur RIFF. Prior to that, I had been the festival director of the Jaipur Heritage International Festival and the Prithvi Festival, in addition to having curated for numerous other festivals in Mumbai and abroad. So it was my experience with festivals as well as my passion for music and staging that brought Jodhpur RIFF to me.What sets this festival apart from other music festivals in the country or elsewhere?It is a distinct festival - unique in its program, its flavor and its setting. It is the only music festival that provides a dedicated contemporary platform to traditional musicians at such a scale. How has the Jodhpur RIFF evolved in the nine years of its existence? It has gradually grown in scale and stature. It is far better known in the country today than it was five years ago. Internationally too, it is now recognized as a festival of quality. Most importantly, our folk artists trust Jodhpur RIFF and believe that it is a platform for them. We have recently received invitations to present Rajasthani musicians in UK, Germany, Australia, Spain, France and South Africa. Jodhpur RIFF has had representation at forums such as Celtic Connections (2014, 2015 in Scotland), Womex (2014 in Spain), Moshito (2015 in South Africa). We are also scheduling gigs in Kolkata and Bangalore for later this year.Which performances have been most appreciated in recent years?Oh, many. Our dawn concerts and the Desert Lounge are very popular. The collaborations between Rajasthani artists and international artists have been highly appreciated, particularly the ones with Shooglenifty, Dutch Jazz act Yuri Honing Trio, Brazilian-American musician Maga Bo, Ross Daly on the Cretan lyra, and kamaycha player Ghewar Manganiyar. And of course artists such as Davy Sicard from France, vocalist Bhanwari Devi, Sumitra, the fusion act Maru Tarang, The Manganiyar of Marwar, Senegalese duo Bao Sissoko and Malick Pathe Sow, Manu Chao, plus many, many others.Would you say the exotic setting of the Mehrangarh Fort is a big part of the attraction of this festival? Does special attention go towards presenting the fort and the surroundings in the best light for the visitors?The Mehrangarh fort is stunning in itself so we need to do little to embellish it. Our focus is on how we present the artists within such a setting, because it is so perfect. It enables us to valorize the folk musicians. I’d say that the setting is fantastic but it is the coming together of the music and the fort that really is the centerpiece of the festival. Has the RIFF pioneered the idea of dawn and midnight concerts?I think we have. Even though, in Indian classical traditions, early morning raags have always existed, as far as I know, we are the only ones who have presented a variety of musical performances at dawn, so consistently and regularly.How do you facilitate collaborations between local and international artistes? Is there an attempt to offset traditional music with contemporary/ fusion concepts?The international musicians arrive early. We provide the space, a translator/ interlocutor and facilitate a meeting with the Rajasthani musicians. Often, we build the collaboration over a number of festivals. Regarding the question about balancing traditional with fusion music, the attempt is to open a space where both can be seen in similar light - as good, quality music.As international patron of the festival, does Mr Mick Jagger attend the festival often? How did he get associated with the project? He very graciously agreed when approached by our Chief Patron, Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Marwar-Jodhpur. He comes whenever he can. He’s been thrice so far and we do expect him to attend in future. The Manganiyar Seduction Group have now performed at various international venues. Is that the kind of success story that you aspire to replicate with the patronage of local musicians through this festival?That particular performance has been successful but it is not our model. We’ve had many, many successes and distinctions that have been more important for our musicians and us. In any case, we never compare our work with others. What are some of the best reactions you’ve personally got to the festival?That we are “incomparable”. A very prominent artist said “happy to die now” after playing at RIFF; a group said that this was their “best experience of India” after traveling for three months. One audience member is coming for the seventh year in a row, which speaks for itself. Mick Jagger told me that he was “so proud to be a patron” of Jodhpur RIFF.    Highlights of Jodhpur RIFF 2015:A Taste of Thumri: Suchismita Das, a young talented classical and contemporary musician from Kolkata, will present an evening of deep and sensual Thumri.Maand: Parveen Sabrina Khan will sing a rare compilation of traditional and classical Maand songs. Maand is a Rajasthani vocal style, which is at once both folk and classical. Khan performs as part of the Moody Riffs main stage performances, starting 7.45 pm at the Old Zenana Courtyard, Mehrangarh Fort, on October 24.Desert Lounge: Acoustic Roots - Male and female vocalists, including Rajasthani stars such as Bhanwari Devi, Anwar Khan Manganiyar and Barkat Khan Manganiyar, will sing rare as well as popular folk compositions. The Desert Lounge is a unqiue, acoustic rustic experience under the moonlight and the stars at Rao Jodha Park, Mehrangarh Fort, starting 11.30 pm on October 25.Village Soul: Sumitra Devi in Concert – A singing sensation, and one of Rajasthan’s best loved vocalists, Sumitra will present her renditions of songs of the saint poets Meera, Kabir, and Baba Ramdev, and also original compositions, in the Nirguna folk tradition. Sumitra Devi has collaborated with the band Mumford and Sons, and also sung at the Berlin Philharmonie in the past.RIFF Rustle at Club Mehran: With 1991 Grammy-winning bassist Yossi Fine, Kheta Manganiyar, Mahesh Vinayakram, and other artistes will lead this year’s moonlit jam. The Rustle at RIFF is a large-scale impromptu collaboration event, led every year by one musician appointed as the ‘rustler’. Yossi Fine as the rustler this year will then rustle up musicians from the festival to participate in this performance in pairs, quartets or all together.Percussion of Rajasthan: An interactive workshop - Chang, Nagada, Dhol, Khartal, Morchang, Bhapang, Derun, the complexity of the each of these local musical instruments is rarely appreciated and understood. This year the masters of these instruments perform while providing insights into the cultural significance, the making, the relevance and the future of these instruments.Living Legends: Rajasthan has vast and varied musical traditions, which remain alive only because they are passed on from generation to next. Some committed artists, who are the practitioners and custodians of these traditions, come together to share their knowledge and showcase their art.Rhythm and Percussion: Jodhpur RIFF presents a little gem of a performance featuring the Dhol Drummers of Rajasthan, what we call an unusual ‘taal-kachehri’ with Rajasthani percussionists.Baul Fakiri: A presentation of Baul songs and music at sunrise.Desert Harmony: Harmonica sensation Antonio Serrano, esteemed member of the late Paco de Lucia’s ensemble, became famous for introducing the harmonica to flamenco music. Serrano will play an eclectic collection of songs, each telling its own story. In addition to his set, JRIFF 2015 will mark the premier of a new collaboration between Serrano on chromatic harmonica, Josemi Carmona on Flamenco Guitar, and Rajasthani musicians on the Sarangi, Dholak and Kamaycha.An African Sojourn: 2015 Grammy-winning flautist Wouter Kellerman will present a combination of traditional and classical compositions, in a unique dawn concert. And Ghana reggae act Papa Julius and Zion Nexus introduce Jodhpur RIFF to its very first Reggae night, supported by Indias very own funk rockers, The Ska Vengers.Scottish Panorama: Returning to the festival, Celtic folk rock band from Scotland, Shooglenifty, collaborate with Rajasthani masters and Jazz sensation Brian Molley Quartet this year.Children’s Folk Morning: This year sees the introduction of a special RIFF Children’s Corner, for the younger patrons of the festival. This event will feature Kathputali (string puppetry), Kachi Ghodi and Chhatar Kotla (a performance on dummy horses), Bahrupiya (a masked performer), and Kawa Circus featuring traditional Rajasthani artists.This year’s edition of Jodhpur RIFF runs from October 23rd to 27th, 2015. To book donor passes and programs, visit jodhpurriff.org. An early bird booking discount of 25% is available online between September 8 to October 3, 2015.Follow @ARTINFOIndia