The Friday session of The Gin & Jazz Project marks the first of several upcoming ventures by the space looking to offer something new and interactive to patrons, says brand head, Mohit Balachandran

On: September 29; 7.30 pm onwards
At: Smoke House Deli, second floor, Madhu Milan Building, Pali Hill, Bandra West

Despite its perception as music for people with snobbish tastes and a deep understanding of notations and chords, the genre was driven by stories of rebels, misfits and party animals. Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Fats Weller are some names that pop into memory. Theirs was music that thrived in cocktail bars and brought people together for conversations, food and drink

The idea is to create an easy first step for music lovers and aficionados to learn about jazz. While the genre is often associated with whiskeys and bourbons, Balachandran says a change was in the offing. “Gin has a historical connection to jazz, and also, it is the trending choice for many in the city today,” he note

The great pianist, Duke Ellington loved his gin and tonic, and even wrote a song, Gin mill blues inspired by his favourite joint in Harlem. You cannot listen to Louis Armstrong’s Rockin’ chair without wanting to make yourself a gin cocktail