Dec 02 2025 to Dec 02 2025 7 p.m.

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

This is an ode to the blues. 

The blues originated in the deep south of the USA but moved north where the ask was not so much just emotion but also technical prowess. While it began simple, plaintive and raw, it became sophisticated and challenging in the hands of jazzmen like Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Chet Baker.

For a singer, the blues provides every opportunity to pour out one’s heart; and our selections from the jazz/blues repertoire also demand the art of reining it in and speaking eloquently, especially when scatting or singing vocalese.

‘Born to be Blue’ is an evening of original music and jazz standards, all heavily steeped in the spirit of the blues… in their melodies, character, and storytelling.

Some of the songs include Miles Davis’ So What and Whisper Not by Benny Golson, with lyrics written by the famed journalist Leonard Feather. Originals include Aman Mahajan’s Load Shedding—a nod to the power outages in Bangalore—and Bangalore Blues by Radha Thomas, who, despite all the mess, misses the city when she goes away. Born To Be Blue, the theme of this set, was written by the wonderful singer Mel Torme. The song is filled with the metaphor and imagery that brings the blues alive.

There are many other songs they will perform, each with its own sentiment, its own narrative, its own story. Blues people believe inherently that singing it out makes one feel better.

Supported by:

Performers

Radha Thomas
Composer & Vocals
One of India’s leading and most widely recognized figures in jazz, vocalist Radha Thomas has been creating her unique sound for many decades. Her first concerts were right here in Bangalore. Evolving from early rock & roll and Indian classical roots to present-day jazz and blues, that include many of her original music, Thomas loves to sing.

She left India in the mid 70s, having been selected by Jazz India, a leading jazz promotion organization, to perform across Europe and go to NY to learn jazz. She lived, performed and recorded for almost 20 years in NYC working with Ryo Kawasaki, Michael Brecker, Anthony Jackson, Harvey Mason, Leon Pendarvis, Alex Blake, John Abercrombie and others, in some of NYC’s most famous jazz clubs and concert halls. Her music also included an experimental trio with bassist Frank Tusa and Miles Davis alum Badal Roy, where Thomas was featured soloist.

When she returned to Bangalore, she was empaneled by ICCR (the Indian Council for Cultural Affairs, India’s key cultural agency) to be a jazz ambassador for India. She has performed with many of India’s jazz luminaries including Louis Banks, Gerard Machado and her own band ‘UNK The Radha Thomas Ensemble’ I Only Have Eyes For You.

Recently she has leaned toward the more intimate piano-and-voice format with pianist Aman Mahajan, with whom she continues to perform all over India. Their latest album is Bangalore Blues.

When COVID attacked in 2020 putting an end to live music performances, Thomas turned to the internet and collaborated virtually with jazz musicians world-wide. In a single year, she recorded 52 jazz videos. In 2024 she released a duo album with a few guitar players based in the USA called As I Sing.

She hosted a weekly jazz show on Radio Indigo in Bangalore. She is also the author of several books, a dog activist and host of the podcast ‘The Indie Dog.’

Aman Mahajan
Composer & Pianist
A graduate of Berklee College of Music, he is a voyager through musical realms, approaching improvisation as a medium for interaction, expression and exchange. His sound draws inspiration from personal experience, philosophy, and the rich history of traditional and contemporary music.

There is an inner sense to his playing that, although it nods to jazz, Indian folk and classical, very much breathes with its own life. —FREQ Music Magazine

His 2019 solo piano work, Refuge, pays homage to inward journeys, and the ever-evolving idea of home.

Based out of Bangalore, Aman is part of several collaborations rooted in storytelling, experimentation and dialogue. These include his original music project REFUGE, Sage For The Ages with vocalist/writer Kirtana Krishna, several projects with jazz vocalist Radha Thomas, Tinctures with Berlin-based guitarist Nishad Pandey, Indo-global trio Mystik Vibes with hybrid percussionist Muthu Kumar and flautist Amith Nadig, and Intuition with contemporary Carnatic violinist Apoorva Krishna. Through these ensembles, he explores diverse musical vocabularies while playing at the boundaries of contemporary improvised music.

Active internationally, Aman has had the privilege of playing at renowned venues and festivals around the world and India. Beyond his performances, Mahajan attempts to contribute to the development of contemporary improvised music in India through workshops and teaching. He also curates select performances in Bangalore at independent venues like The Blue Room and Courtyard Koota and has been a returning faculty member at the Global Music Institute, Delhi.

Rohit PS
Drums
Rohit P.S. in Bangalore is known for his work as a professional drummer, performer, and educator. He is the Head of the Drum department at Music Central and also performs with bands like MoonArra, Final Vinyl, and Refuge by Aman Mahajan. He teaches using a holistic approach, incorporating various syllabi and focusing on rhythmic concepts and improvisation. He also offers lessons at his home, online, and at students’ locations. 

Sricharan Sunder
Bass
A cognitive neuroscientist deeply interested in how the brain processes information and makes decisions, Sricharan recently took up jazz bass. His acute, instinctive sense of musical nuance is remarkable; in a seemingly short span, he has learned to express himself like a seasoned veteran, channeling the subtleties and moods of jazz and blues. Over the past few years, Sricharan has played with several local bands in Bangalore, including Akshada Krishnan, Funky Dory, and Pockets & Changes.