All that’s jazzAt the recent launch of an international lifestyle clothing chain, the stage and the venue had been set in black and blue for a night of ‘romance and blues’, with an ensemble of musicians that boasted the likes of guitar virtuoso Aamir Zaki, drummer extraordinaire Gumby and two musicians who had been specially flown in for the event: Columbian saxophonist, Diego Miguel and Syrian cellist, Diaa Harb. The event also showcased the talent and skills of Shehrez Zaki, Aamir’s nephew, who played bass on several songs.

With a full attendance from the glitterati of Karachi, the performance was opened by Diego, who proceeded to perform a solo on the saxophone titled Summer Time. He was accompanied on off-time drums by Gumby, who is otherwise better known in local circles for his high-powered, energetic drumming during various rock concerts.

We see a different side of Gumby when he performs in jazz: he plays with a care and finesse that makes every beat stand out. One moment, his drums are barely audible as he switches to brushes, holding the composition together and building up anticipation for what is to come next. The next moment, he lets go and picks up tempo, playing fast enough to have his drumming dominate the performance entirely, albeit for several captivating moments. As a performer, Gumby demands attention — he plays with a heart and soul that reaches out to all those present.

Although Diego tried to punctuate Gumby’s drumming here and there, he mellowed in comparison and seemed to have given up in the end. The spotlight then moved on to a corner in the audience from where appeared the surprise performer of the evening, Aamir Zaki, who quickly took to the stage and launched into a cover of Funky Chicken, a popular number by renown bassist, Jaco Pastorious. A light, fun composition, Aamir seemed to enjoy the performance.

Holding the guitar close in the classical position, he plucked away at the strings, inviting applause and shouts of encouragement from those present. Now and then, he would motion towards the saxophonist who, for some reason, looked like he felt out of place and would politely toot on the saxophone while Aamir would take over the performance again. The performance ended with Gumby, Diego and Aamir each throwing in a lightly energetic solo.

They then left the stage to make space for Diaa, the featured cellist, who began by performing an Arabic-inspired composition. He started out slowly, blending in the melody gracefully. He could be seen peering in at the audience as if to gauge their response. Diaa played with a confidence that spoke volumes of his experience when it came to performing live and which starkly contrasted the polite hesitation that Diego had displayed till then.

Following the performance, all the musicians took the stage, and with Aamir Zaki on lead and Shehrez Zaki on bass, they launched into a cover of Steely Dan’s classic number, Do It Again. Aamir, who was very much at home on stage, seemed to be providing cues to every musician to perform their individual bits. Shehrez on the other hand, was comparatively shy, keeping himself away from the limelight, playing a steady bass line throughout. The introductory notes of the next cover, Baker Street by Gerry Raferty were met with delightful yells from the audience. Aamir threw himself into the song and provided a heartfelt rendition of the lyrics. Customising the song to suit his own musical style, he concluded the song by swinging the guitar around in an energetic solo.

The final piece consisted solely of improvisations by each musician. One thing that Aamir and Gumby have in common is the sheer amount of energy that they both display when left to perform what comes to them naturally. Instinctively familiar with each other’s style, their performance was perfectly complemented. It was heartening to note that this energy seemed to rub off on Diego as well, who launched an aggressive solo on his saxophone. The composition was then brought back to the same Arabic-inspired number that Diaa had opened his performance with. Aamir played the same melody on his guitar and Diaa took the lead and complemented it on his cello.

There are very few performances that let you relive every single moment with the same initial excitement, and the Dockers San Francisco launch by event managers Dream Merchants happened to be one of them. More exciting than the performance itself was watching the music evolve with the musicians who instantaneously acquainted themselves with each others’ style of performing. Diego’s last solo in which he shed his inhibitions was significant in the sense that it was probably the only moment when he truly seemed to give himself to the performance.

The musicians’ personalities shone through each instrument they played, and the night, coupled with the impeccable ambience, turned out to truly be drenched in jazz and blues.

First Published:
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December 24th, 2006