Yes, it happened and in style too. The venue: Mustik Nightclub, Finsbury Square, City Square Mile. The date: 23rd July 2010. The occasion: to remember Jools, raise money for his Trust and felicitate the first winners of the talent awards sponsored by the Anjool Maldé Memorial Trust. A frantic 8 weeks of relentless efforts by a hastily put together Concert Committee (emerging principal protagonists being Barry, David, Ravi, Andy, Mali & Gemma). Add to that the generous offer, through Gemma’s good office, from Jamal Hirani (of Tiffin Bites now Tiffin Beats in business with Rishi Rich Productions) to put together an ‘acts & venue’ package and the keen willingness of his own artistes as well as Anjlee, Arjun, Zuby, Marcus Dubois and others to want to ‘do it for Jools’. Add the co-opting by Barry of Bollywood Grooves (dance troupe) and Nikki (to cover for him when he had slipped off to Germany to seek guidance from Paul the Octopus) and several among you spreading the word around, it was all heading up to be a Gig that Jools himself would have been proud of. And so it turned out!
Earlier, Barry had received a good omen from Him Up There. As he shaved in the morning he had sent a silent prayer upwards: ‘Hope it’s going to work out fine tonight’ and Jools had appeared in the mirror alongside him nodding and smiling! For Barry this was just another of his regular exchanges with Jools. For his father it sent a shiver down his spine.
The event kicked off with presentations of trophies and prize money to 6 wonderfully talented youngsters, the first recipients of annual talent awards to be sponsored by Jools’ Trust the AMMT:
· Richard Kuti, Winner, Student Personality of the Year
· Aadya Shukla, Runner-Up, Student Personality of the Year
· Anna Rawlings & Tara Mulholland, Winners, Anjool Maldé Journalism Prize
· Adam Bouyamourn & Christopher Graham, Runners-up, Anjool Maldé Journalism Prize
Congratulations to all of them and may they all blaze forth with their talents and careers in turn to inspire others following behind them. To all of you who tried to donate and ran into problems using paypal, apologies from the Trustees but easier access routes are still open at www.anjool.org. Our thanks go out to the supporters of the Trust and hope that they will feel gratified to see their donations used in rewarding and inspiring graduate talent the same way Jools seemed to have spent so much of his time doing. As a first public occasion with many of Jools’ fraternity present in force, it gave us, Jools’ parents, a welcome opportunity to thank all of you, individually and collectively, for standing by us in our hour of need.
The Acts kicked off with a wonderful rendering of one of Jools’ all-time favourites ‘Hallelujah’ by Anjlee Desai of the Madame Project, a special moment for Jools’ parents as Anjlee grew up with Jools in the Tees Valley and he had been a keen supporter of her talent and career. The artistes all had the same point to make - they wanted ‘to do it for Jools’ as he had at some key point in their career lent them a helping hand, word or deal which had marked an important turning point for them. Zuby alas had to sign off ill and we hope he is well now. As acts followed one after other, the decibels also seemed to escalate, as did the number of punters, the bopping and the drinking. As the lower tier of Mustik filled up, the floor seemed to be at its seething, throbbing best around midnight both in terms of humanity and decibel level. The SPC cell bopped away merrily in the far corner and the floor seemed to be packed to the rafters with a crowd of 150 strong. But the 150-decibel level proved just too much for Naina & I and we just could not tell who was saying what to whom - and why. I remarked to Najam alongside me ‘can I not go and tell the DJ the music would sound so much better softer?’ He replied helpfully: ‘you don’t get it, do you? You don’t say softer, you say: please can you play it louder?’ Andy took a good many photographs but like a true paparazzi, he will only show them to the highest bidder (all proceeds to Jools’ Trust) and none of us have been allowed a look in.
As if to suggest a Cinderella hour, a number of revellers started to fade away as soon as midnight struck and I wondered whether it was a rush back home before they turned into pumpkins. One of the more knowledgeable ones alongside me explained that midnight was an hour of practical significance for City commuters. ‘Ah’, I said. I saw Andy Young slip away too with a very delectable companion (her name available to the highest bidder - all proceeds to Jools’ Trust). (Earlier at lunchtime, Ravi had mused how dangerous it was to confide in Jools with one’s personal detail. Now I know whom his father gets it from).
Much as all of you, like Irra, were missed, it was also comforting to see those who made it, with some making a very special effort to be there by off-setting their holiday and travel plans. Sweta had pushed back her travel to US and Krill to Russia. So many others sought us out to introduce themselves and to speak warmly about their association with Jools. Naina and I had hesitated about attending lest our presence might dim the celebratory glow of the occasion. We felt pleased we attended. Seeing the event unfold in style, felicitating the success of the deserved winners of Jools awards, seeing so many of Jools’ fraternity again and meeting others for the first time, and being treated to the acts by wonderful artistes all of them keen to offer their talents and time for free, were all an experience to savour. However difficult it remains for us to bear Jools’ loss, meeting his fraternity and being wrapped up in their supportive warmth never fails to touch and comfort us in special ways.
The serious revellers stayed till the kick-out hour and as we emerged on to the street well after 2.30, I wondered how much the Bar must have taken and rued: ‘if only we had had a cut for Jools’ Trust’. I was later to learn the Event had grossed a cool £1576 for the Trust with donations on top (still being counted). Thank you all for being there in support or doing the same from afar.
Barry kept calling me ~Buddha and just as I was settling down in the warm glow as the Wise One, he was quick to point out he had meant the Ancient Fossil. As I scanned the faces of the male posse of about a dozen out on the street awaiting their cabs, I cast a pitiful look at the two lone females in the group, shaking my head and muttering ‘what could they have done to deserve this.’ One last order at Barry to stoop and touch my feet and a mock whack around Rickin’s ears with my clipboard for calling me Uncle (yes, I had actually arrived at the gig with a clipboard in the hope that it might help me command respect from the boys - alas, to no avail), and the time had come for Naina and I to take the 10 minute walk back to Jools’ flat leaving behind a group of bright young things for whom the night was just beginning. Later the next day, from wherever Ravi had landed for the night, he scratched around for lunch in vain and when nothing materialised, he had repaired to the British Museum where he had appreciated the food on offer. Some people totter back home to resume their sleep. A rare few even go to the Church, especially after a night of wanton sinning, for penance and confession. But the British Museum? Straight after a good night Ravi? We never tire of learning something new and special of the charming facets that each of Jools’ fraternity brings to their bearing. We love you all.
Thank you all for being there live or in spirit for Jools. A big thank you to the Concert Committee, the artistes and all of you for your continuing fondness for Jools and support for his Trust. Until next time, go well and Jai Ho. Bharat
