The legendary Rudy Cotton played the first Jazz notes at Mumbai’s Rang Bhavan. This started the tradition of a jazz festival in Mumbai. And, it was with an inaugural concert by Krin Krog that Jazz India was founded in 1975.

Jazz Yatra was a bi-annual event till 2000. Thereafter, it was organised annually till 2004. ‘Jazz Yatra’ is now known as ‘Jazz Utsav’ - one of the oldest and longest running jazz festivals outside America.

Although India may not be a country where jazz enjoys a widespread fan following, Jazz Yatra/Jazz Utsav enjoys a reputation for having a longer run than any European jazz festival. The only sad bit is that Rang Bhavan is no longer its venue.