Jazzmandu, an annual festival that brings together jazz musicians from across Nepal and the world, is currently being held in various venues in Kathmandu Valley. The ongoing event is the 18th iteration of the festival and the first after the coronavirus pandemic struck. The fest started on October 13 and will run until October 19.

This year’s festival is themed ‘Music for unity, peace, and compassion’ and features performers such as The Jamie Baum Sextet (USA), Catia Werneck (Brazil/France), Yumi Ito (Switzerland), Jin Jim (Germany), Cadenza Collective (Nepal), Samundra Band (Nepal), and Jonisha Poudel (Nepal).

Jazzmandu was founded by Nabin Chettri, drummer and vocalist of Cadenza Collective, a Nepali-Afrofunk band, and Chhedup Bomzan of The Jazz Upstairs Bar in 2002. Since then, the festival has been celebrated every year, usually between Dashain and Tihar. The festival is known for bringing an impressive mix of Nepali and international artists to the audience. Jazzmandu founders say the fest aims to share peace and compassion through music.

“I hope that our youths become aware of jazz and the evolving music culture,” says Samir Chettri, bassist of Cadenza Collective. The organisers also provide a special concert for young students every year. “We had a three-day free sound workshop from 10 to 12 October with a sound engineer from Switzerland,” Chettri said.

Like its former editions, the festival seems to have left an impression on the audience. Prasna Bimali, an audience member who attended the festival for the first time, said she didn’t expect the festival to be so lively and full of energy. “I don’t feel like going back home at all,” she told the Post on the sidelines of the festival.

Audiences can expect quality jazz and food at all the eight Jazzmandu venues—Jazz Upstairs in Lazimpat; Electric Pagoda in Thamel; Evoke, Jhamsikhel; Musicology, Maitrimarga; Gokarna Forest Resort; Aloft, Thamel; Yalamaya Kendra, Patan Dhoka; and Hotel Yak & Yeti in Durbar Marg. The ticket price ranges from Rs700 to Rs1700.