Jayen Varma
Jayen proudly endorses:
Jayakumar KeralaVarma a.k.a Jayen Varma lives in Cochin, India. He is known for developing Tabla/Mridangam style finger movement technique on Bass Guitar. The style developed by him is widely known as ‘Indian Slap Bass’, which won him fans around the globe and accolades from some of the great names in bass guitar like Jeff Berlin, Bootsy Collins, Marcus Miller, James Lomenzo, Victor Wooten, Kai Eckhardt, Michael Henderson, Brian Bromberg, Regi Wooten, David Pastorius etc. The Registry of Official World Records (Record Holders Republic), USA&UK and The Record Setter Book of World Records, USA have declared him the Fastest Bass Guitar Player in 2008 and 2011 respectively.
Jayen Varma has been in the world of music for the last three decades collaborating with various Artistes and Bands of different genres in and outside India. He has his own band named The Khayal Groove. The band consists of Aparna Panshikar (www.aparnapanshikar.com) on North Indian Classical Vocals and Jean Davoisne (www.jeandavoisne.com) on Drums, in collaboration with various artistes across the World. (www.thekhayalgroove.com).
Acknowledgements from Legends of Bass Guitar:
Bootsy Collins, the legendary Bass Player :
“WOW! JAYEN, IT IS WITH AMAZING SPEED THAT YOU PLAY, AND THE GREAT THING IS TO HAVE A GOOD FEELING ALONG WITH THE SPEED! YOU ARE RIGHT UP THERE WITH ALL THE REST OF THE GREATS! EXPOSURE IS THE KEY, BECAUSE YOU ARE WITHOUT A DOUBT, FUNKY! LOVIN’ WHAT YOU DO WITH THAT BASS, YOUR OTHER BROTHER, BOOTSY”
James LoMenzo, the great Bass Guitarist for the bands Megadeth, White Lion and Lynch Mob:
“JAYEN, I’M SO INSPIRED BY YOUR TALENT, NOT JUST SPEED BUT THE PRECISION AND MUSICALITY ! I’M A BIG FAN ! BEAUTIFUL ! JLO”
Victor Wooten, the legendary Bassist:
“VERY COOL. I LOVE THE IDEA. ANYTIME I MEET A PERCUSSIONIST FROM INDIA, I HAVE THEM PLAY MY BASS LIKE THAT. IT’S VERY INSPIRATIONAL. THANX, VIC”
Jeff Berlin, one of the greatest Bassists:
“I JUST HEARD YOUR MUSIC AND IT DEFINITELY SOUNDS INFLUENCED BY THE MUSIC OF INDIA. IT SOUNDS REALLY GREAT, AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND MUCH SUCCESS WITH YOUR MUSIC. BEST REGARDS, JEFF”
Stuart Hamm, the Bass legend:
“NEVER GIVE UP HOPE!!!!… ~S~”
Regi Wooten, the legendary Guitarist/ Bass Player/teacher and brother of the great Bassist Victor Wooten:
“YOUR PLAYING IS UNIQUE AND FANTASTIC.. I APPRECIATE YOU”
Phil Powell, the great Fretless Cat Bass:
“BRO, YOU ARE ONE AMONG THE GREATEST BASSISTS OF ALL TIME”
David Pastorius, the amazing Bassist from the family of legendary Bass player of all time, Jaco Pastorius:
“I HAVE WATCHED SOME OF YOUR VIDEOS AND YOU ARE VERY TALENTED. I WOULD LOVE TO JAM WITH YOU SOMETIME”
Brian Bromberg, the legendary Bassist:
“IT’S VERY COOL…..I LOVE SEEING NEW STYLES”
Michael Henderson, Grammy Nominated Singer/Songwriter and Bass Guitarist for Miles Davis and Stevie Wonder:
“FANTASTIC SOUNDS!”
Marcus Miller, the great funk Bassist:
“SOUNDING GOOD, BRO!!!”
Kai Eckhardt, one of the greatest Bass Players of Indo-Jazz Fusion and Bass Player for John McLaughlin and Billy Cobham:
“ALRIGHT JAYEN, YOU ARE NOT AFRAID TO GO FOR THE UNCONVENTIONAL, ROCK ON! BEST WISHES, KAI”
