MUMBAI: With an aim to boost cultural ties, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has announced the third edition of the Delhi International Jazz Festival to be held from 15-17 March at Nehru Park. The fest will play host to various acts featuring around 12 bands from 10 countries including India.

Some of the bands that will perform at the festival will later travel to other venues in India. The fest will also be webcast live on all three days.

The first day will witness performances by New Bone Quintet from Poland, Lindi & Mimi from South Africa, Sylvie Bourban from Switzerland and Oscar Acevedo Quartet from Colombia. On 16 March, bands like Sachal Vasandanti from US, Radha Thomas from India, Ararat from Israel and Oleg Butmen Jazz Trio will enthrall the audiences.

The fest will culminate on 17 March with performers including Toshanbar and Dhruv from India, Jorge Pardo from Spain and Imany from France.

ICCR director general Suresh K Goel said, “Every major city such as Montreal, London, Stockholm and Edinburgh has a world class Jazz Festival that is not just named after the city but almost defines its cultural ethos. With a truly International Jazz Festival we intend to include Delhi in this list and make it a truly world class city. For the lovers of music in Delhi, this three-day unique festival would be a treat of great music from around the world in the serene environs of the Nehru Park.”

Out of all the performers, the New Bone Quintet will perform in Jammu, Lindi and Mimi in Chennai under the Festival of South Africa and Oscar Acevedo Quartet in Kolkata, all on 17 March. It will be followed by Ararat in Bangalore on 18 March, Jorge Pardo at the Jaipur Art Festival and Imany in Mumbai on 19 March.

The fest was conceived by the ICCR in 2011 and entry to the festival will be free as a ‘tool of cultural contact’ spanning Asia, Africa, North America and Europe.

He added, “It has become an annual feature on the ICCR's calendar. Having lived abroad for a long time, I have realized that our musical reactions are not limited to classical traditions. We take a great deal of interest in their genres of music like rock, pop, jazz and blues. Not only older people, even younger people in India are listening to jazz. I thought a Jazz Music Festival would generate interest in India. It is a kind of free-wheeling music that represents freedom.”