Jazz is back alive: Younger crowds jazz up Pune's live music scene

Long before the city’s indie gigs and electronic nights dominated the social calendar, Pune quietly harboured a jazz ecosystem. At cafés tucked away in Koregaon Park and small stages across the city, musicians gathered not just to perform but to feel the music. Two decades on, that rhythm still exists. What was once considered a niche genre has become a growing part of the city’s nightlife, and one that has attracted the younger generation too.Why the genre has sustained, and how youngsters are rediscovering itAt the heart of Pune’s jazz culture is Shisha Jazz Café, now located in The Mills. The café first began with a small terrace setup at ABC Farms in 2003 and has since become one of the city’s most iconic live venues. "Younger people are coming in, discovering new sounds, and keeping the energy of jazz alive," says Mehdi Niroomand, founder of Shisha Jazz Cafe which has been a hotspot for jazz events in the city for over 23 years. Similarly, across the city, cafés like Cobbler & Crew, Asilo, and Elephant & Co are also tuning into the genre with regular jazz nights. For many young Punekars, these gigs are where they first experience the live energy of a music form they may have only heard in films or shows. "People in their 30s or 40s are familiar with jazz music but we have also seen a shift towards younger audiences who turn up at our shows regularly," says Ashutosh Joshi, founder of the Pune Jazz Project. Events, collectives and the live circuitPune’s jazz resurgence isn’t just sentimental; it’s structural. From regular jazz nights at local cafes to jazz groups from the city performing across the country, jazz is buzzing everywhere. "About 70 per cent of what we play is reworked classic jazz,” says saxophonist and vocalist Krishnan Bharadwaj, adding, "But the rest is where we experiment. We like to keep things tight, groovy, and engaging for audiences who may not have grown up with jazz.” For designer Janhavi Rajesh, jazz has become a go-to comfort on overwhelming days. “I have a playlist called Muse for Blue Days. It helps me slow down when I’m feeling very overwhelmed. That’s how it feels in a jazz café too," she shares. Records, revival and the analog turnIn an age of streaming and subscriptions, the city's jazz lovers are tilting towards analog and reaching for vinyls. At New Rhythm House on JM Road, one of the city’s oldest record stores, owner Rakesh Solanki says, "Pop, jazz and blues are always in demand. Whenever we get new jazz records, they sell out fast. Dean Martin is one of our most popular artists, and we have a lot of college-going people coming in for these records.” Collectors say the appeal lies in the warmth of analog sound and the ritual of playing a record - dropping the needle, flipping the side, reading liner notes. “People want a more personal way to listen,” adds Solanki.PULL QUOTES“The trumpet, the piano and the scatting, it’s the best live music experience ever and I think every jazz lover will agree to this- Janhavi Rajesh, designer and jazz enthusiast“I grew up listening to Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. I love Ella’s voice - it’s so dynamic and soulful. Jazz has so much soul that it’s hard to stay still while listening.” - Shreya Sudhindra, animator and jazz lover