An Indo-jazz journey marks eight years with a concert rooted in harvest

Bengaluru-based fusion ensemble MoonArra marks eight years of collaboration with US saxophonist Phil Scarff with a special concert titled Music – The Harvest Horn of Plenty on January 14 at Alliance Française de Bengaluru.

The 90-minute performance features original compositions rooted in Indian classical ragas and rhythms, enriched with jazz harmonic nuances. Scarff performs on soprano sax alongside Jagadeesh on guitar, Madhuri Jagadeesh and Jataveda Banerjee on vocals, and Adarsh Shenoy on tabla. The ensemble is also recording a new album of original music shaped collaboratively by the group and Scarff.

Guitarist-composer Jagadeesh describes the journey as an organic progression. “The past year is especially fulfilling,” he says, referring to international festivals, an Italian tour and the recording of the album World Sound. “This concert feels like a full circle — a seamless continuation of everything we explore.”

'It’s harvest time across the country'
The concert’s title reflects its timing. Scheduled around Sankranti, the performance draws inspiration from harvest celebrations across India. “It’s harvest time across the country — Baisakhi, Lohri — all of that happens during this period,” Jagadeesh explains. “That’s why we name the concert The Harvest Horn of Plenty.”

'A fusion of everything'
For audiences, the concert unfolds as an intimate listening experience where musical dialogue takes precedence over genre labels. Jagadeesh explains that the focus is on how the saxophone, voices, tabla and guitar respond to one another in real time, creating a fluid exchange rather than parallel performances. “It’s about how everything comes together and starts speaking to each other,” he says, summing up the collaborative spirit of the evening.

The concert takes place on January 14 at 7 pm at Alliance Française de Bangalore, tickets are available on: district.in.