Aman Mahajan

It’s now the year 2023.

That’s twelve years since Radha typed piano player Cooke Town Bangalore into Google. The result of that search has been two studio albums, many video recordings, lots of original compositions, and a tonne of collaborations. At this point, if you’re an Indian jazz lover there’s little chance you’ve not heard of Radha Thomas and Aman Mahajan.

Though they perform regularly in various configurations, a well-kept secret is their delicate and nuanced duo, where Mahajan and Thomas seem to flow in and out of each others’ souls seamlessly.

Their music is original, yet familiar. Strains of jazz intertwine with a hint of Indian music and some solid improvisation to provide an intricate, technically complex and fulfilling experience, even for the non-casual listener.

>> downloadable artist profile / press kit

There have been countless live performances in clubs, concerts, online and most of all, a seamless and intuitive musical connect that resonates with audiences no matter where they play. The sound is jazz, of course. And sometimes it intensifies. Sometimes it becomes more than jazz. But you have to listen for it.

PERFORMANCES

π = duo: piano and voice
∆ = trio: ft. Ramjee Chandran on guitar
∑ = The Radha Thomas Ensemble

29.12.2023 π The Burrow, Bangalore
24.12.2023 π Sly Granny, Indiranagar, Bangalore
07.10.2023 ∑ Catholic Club, Bangalore
05.10.2023 π The Burrow, Bangalore
31.08.2023 ∑ Bangalore International Center
24.05.2023 π Sly Granny, Brigade Road, Bangalore
17.12.2022 ∑ Jazz Manouche at Atta Galatta, Bangalore
16.12.2022 ∑ Jazz Manouche at The Courtyard, Bangalore
23.10.2021 ∆ NĀVU, Bangalore International Center
15.12.2020 ∆ Cooke Town, Bangalore (livestream)
03.12.2020 π Bangalore Blues album launch (livestream)
29.11.2019 π Legal Summit at Bangalore International Center
16.11.2019 ∆ The Studio, Cooke Town, Bangalore
19.10.2019 ∆ Bangalore Golf Club
12.10.2019 ∑ Catholic Club, Bangalore
13.04.2019 π The Blue Room, Bangalore
29.06.2019 ∑ Jagriti, Bangalore
10.05.2019 ∆ Urban Solace, Bangalore
20.04.2019 ∑ Bangalore International Center
29.11.2018 ∆ Hype, Shangri-La, Bangalore
19.10.2018 π Swarnabhoomi Music Academy, Chennai
24.11.2017 ∑ ICCR Jazz Festival, New Delhi
24.07.2015 π Dimitrie Ghica Park, Sinaia, Romania
23.07.2015 π King’s Valley Hall, Mara Hotel, Sinaia, Romania

Thomas is a writer as well, and focuses a lot on the lyrics which are quirky (Rendu Dosai features several dozen dosais, some of which you may have never heard of) and sometimes poignant, like the song Load Shedding, which is a Mahajan composition. Mahajan wrote the tune after experiencing repeated power cuts in his Cooke Town home and Thomas seized on the opportunity to have a little wry fun.

Videos and collaborations FROM LOCKDOWN, 2020–2021

Vocalese is a new addition to their repertoire. It is a specific jazz vocal style that originated alongside hard bop in the 50s in America. Singers like Jon Hendricks, Eddie Jefferson and King Pleasure took to writing words to the solos of famous horn players like Coleman Hawkins, Wardell Gray, James Moody and even Miles Davis. Thomas has taken the solos of Chet Baker as he performed famous jazz standards and she has written lyrics to them so the songs now have a different sparkle.

PRESS

Excuse Bangalore artistes Radha Thomas and Aman Mahajan if they seem a little hurried while performing at Take 5 in Indiranagar on April 25. The duo that comprises musical outfit ‘2 For The Road’ will be rushing to The Piano Man in Delhi on May 10, and then boarding a flight to Romania. They will be representing India at EUROPAFest in Bucharest, a prestigious global music festival. —Khushali Madhwani | Bangalore Mirror

…vocalist Radha Thomas and Berklee-educated pianist, composer and arranger Aman Mahajan will fly the Bangalore flag at the EUROPA Fest in Bucharest, Romania. The prestigious 2-week festival (08 May through 24 May this year) comprises performances by over 300 artists from 45 different locations. Thomas and Mahajan are the only featured artists from India. —Jazz Hack | Bangalore Mag