Author: Fernandes Naresh
Place: New Delhi
Publisher: Roli Books
Year: 2012
Volume: Foxtrot ob 8
Pages: 192
ISBN: 978-81-7436-759-4
Subject: Bombay/ Mumbai
Sub-Subject: Bombay
Keyword: Musical History, Taj Mahal
Classification: 781.65
Shelf: C5R5
Accession No: B1023
Contents: Preface Forgetting the Ganges Bombay Speed A rather cheery spot Attaining Hindustanese The Italians of the East The black commotion ‘You have to feel it’ An Indian theme Music without birth control Modernistic tendencies A damned good show Frenetic, sleazy heat Epilogue Acknowledgements Bibliography Index Image credits
Abstract: *Taj Mahal Foxtrot: The Story of Bombay’s Jazz Age* traces the dynamic rise of jazz in Bombay during the early to mid-20th century. Blending music history with cultural analysis, the book reveals how American jazz fused with Indian traditions amidst colonial rule and urban transformation. Through vivid chapters and personal stories, it highlights the role of African-American, Goan, and Parsi musicians in creating a uniquely Indian jazz scene. More than just entertainment, jazz symbolized modernity, resistance, and cosmopolitan identity in a changing India. This engaging narrative revives a forgotten era that significantly influenced Bombay’s cultural and musical evolution.