KOCHI: Ardent fans of jazz always believe that jazz does not belong to a race or culture but it is more of a gift to the world. Deborah believes in it too and will be visiting the port city on November 4, to spread her love for jazz. ‘The Deborah J Carter Quartet’ featuring Deborah J Carter (Vocals), Leo Bouwmeester (Piano), Mark Zandveld (Bass) and Gunnar Graafmans (Drums) will be performing live at the Casino Hotel in Willingdon Island.
Vocalist Deborah J Carter was born in the United States, grew up in Hawaii and Japan and after living and working in Spain for many years, she is currently residing in Netherlands along with her husband who is also the bassist of her quartet Mark.
Deborah attended Berklee College of Music to immerse herself in music and while being there, she decided that her voice would become her instrument of choice. “I am very happy to work in a genre like jazz which absorbs everything around it. The best part about this genre is that it’s constantly evolving. Jazz began in the 1920’s and 30’s but the constant improvisation in jazz keeps it fresh forever,” says Deborah.
Mark Zandveld is a bassist and composer from Amsterdam. After playing bass in various funk, blues, jazz and soul groups, he decided to study at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, of which he became an award-winning graduate.
“Mark and I have worked together even before we started seeing each other. Normally when you working with someone you are married to or dating, things tend to get ugly. But in our case, we constantly support each other and we do not interfere in each other’s department. I must say Mark and I are quite lucky,” says Deborah.
During her residency in Spain she collaborated on CDs with Max Sunyer, Carles Benavent and Salvador Niebla adding vocals to their typical brand of Mediterranean, flamenco-influenced jazz. “I came across so many types of music while in Spain. There were artists from Cuba, South America and Africa. I was exposed to all kinds of music. This helped me in my work. My musical influences while living in Spain added the right amount of passion and intensity to my art,” says Deborah.
She also worked in theatre in Madrid, and then formed her own jazz quintet with which she appeared in many jazz festivals in major cities in Spain. Deborah was once complimented that she is like an alligator who is constantly growing in her profession and will continue to do so till the end of time.
Always open to new musical experiences and sharing her art with people of different cultures around the globe, this season Deborah J Carter is looking forward to teaching Summer Workshops at the Conservatory of Amsterdam in collaboration with the Manhattan School of Music, giving concerts and master classes in South Korea, concerts in Germany and Spain, and working on a brand new CD which will shine an exciting new light on the compositions of a well-know composer.
Leo Bouwmeester, the pianist of the quartet, is an in-demand sideman for many jazz artists in the Dutch jazz scene.
Leo toured internationally with Paul Stocker, Deborah, and has occupied the piano chair for many years at the regular sessions in Amsterdam jazz venues.
Drummer Gunnar Graafmans from Netherlands studied classical percussion at the conservatory, but is just as active in the jazz world. As a drummer he performed, either as a leader of his own groups or as sideman, in many European countries like Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and France. The quartet is currently in New Delhi conducting workshops for the young crowd.
“It is a rich experience travelling to a new country. The audience are open to the jazz ideas that we present to them. It’s fun to share our knowledge with the young people in any city. It’s a different kind of tourism. I love the people and the food,” adds the jazz artist.
When asked about her opinion on Indian music, she said, “Indian music is incredible. There are artists in Holland who have studied Indian music and they are just masters! I personally like the works of Pandit Ravi Shankar.” says Deborah.The quartet will be performing in Kochi as a part of their India Tour October - November 2014. Tickets for the event is priced at `2,000 for couple entry and `1,200 for singles entry. For further details contact on 9656028943.