The inaugural edition of India Jazz Project by Foreword concluded successfully from February 6–8 across Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, marking a confident, culturally rich debut for the new multi-city platform. With over 4,000 attendees across the three cities and the Mumbai show completely sold out, the fully curated experience blended world-class music, premium hospitality, and design-led environments, setting a new benchmark for intimate live programming in India.
The first edition of India Jazz Project was powered by Jack Daniel’s Merchandise and Rarefore, an extension of The House of Rare, as Principal Partners. As patrons of contemporary culture, both partners played a key role in shaping immersive environments that extended beyond the stage and into the overall experience.
Headlined by GRAMMY-winning desert blues collective Tinariwen, the three-city run delivered a powerful blend of international and Indian artists with a carefully balanced and thoughtfully programmed lineup.
Beyond the headliner, the India Jazz Project placed a strong spotlight on homegrown talent, celebrating Indian artists as a core part of the experience rather than a supporting element. Performances by Ron Cha Trio, The Rudy Wallang Band, Easy Wanderlings, and Blue Temptation brought distinct regional and stylistic voices to the tour, while the Bengaluru edition also featured Jatayu and Aman Mahajan’s Refuge. Together, the artists reflected the project’s core philosophy, creating a platform where global and Indian musical identities exist in dialogue and share equal prominence.
The programming was supported by the successful run-up series, Road to IJP, hosted across multiple cities at top-tier venues. These lead-in events helped build community, introduce audiences to the project’s sonic direction, and establish anticipation for the main tour, reinforcing the idea of India Jazz Project as a long-term cultural property rather than a single weekend event.
A defining element of the India Jazz Project experience was its thoughtful approach to premium and city-specific food and beverage curation, designed to complement the atmosphere of each evening. Guests experienced crafted cocktails, elevated bar menus, and thoughtfully paired dishes by leading culinary partners across cities, including Perch, Lavonne, Practically Sobar, Bakeree, Shoyu, and Bengaluru Oota Company, among others. Each collaboration brought a distinct local flavour while staying aligned with the project’s focus on quality, comfort, and sensory detail.
The experience extended beyond the performances themselves, with vibrant after-parties in each city that kept audiences engaged late into the night. These closing sets created an energetic and social conclusion to each evening, further reinforcing the project’s immersive, community-driven spirit.
Speaking about the debut edition, Arpan Peter, Co-Founder, Foreword, said: “Our aim with the India Jazz Project was to move beyond the conventional concert format and create something more personal and lasting. The balance between international acts and Indian artists was important to us, celebrating homegrown talent while placing them within a global context. From the venues and partners to the audiences and after-hours programming, everything came together with a shared sense of purpose. This is just the beginning of what we hope will become an evolving cultural journey.”
Somanna Muthanna, Co-Founder, Foreword, added: “India Jazz Project was envisioned as a space where music, culture, and hospitality come together naturally. Seeing audiences across three cities connect so deeply with the artists and the experience has been incredibly rewarding. From the Road to IJP events to the main shows, we wanted every touchpoint to feel intentional and memorable. This first edition has affirmed our belief that there is a growing appetite in India for intimate, well-curated cultural experiences.”
With its inaugural edition now complete, the India Jazz Project looks ahead to building on this momentum by continuing to bring together global and Indian artists through thoughtfully curated programming. As the platform evolves, it remains committed to fostering meaningful cultural exchange, nurturing homegrown talent, and shaping intimate live experiences that deepen how audiences engage with music, community, and contemporary culture.
