Photo by Luke Marantz
Aakash Mittal - alto saxophone & bass clarinet
Shurmi Dhar - voice
Jasmine Wilson - voice
gabby fluke-mogul - violin
Trevor New - viola
Miles Okazaki - guitar
Hannah Marks - bass
Rajna Swaminathan - mridangam & kanjira
Breathe is a song cycle that explores dreams as a non linear space where memory, experience and premonition meet. Mittal’s global community contributed the text of each piece as a reflection of their experience during the 2020 pandemic. As a work of collective dreaming the piece asks questions of our current social, political and environmental climate with a focus on our breath. What does it mean to breathe during the Covid-19 pandemic? In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, who is allowed to breathe in American society? How can breath be healing during these difficult times?
Hailed as “A fiery alto saxophonist and prolific composer” by the Star Tribune (Minneapolis), Aakash Mittal’s work "points toward new possibilities in improvised music." (Denver Post) With over one hundred and twenty new works to his name, Mittal’s compositions range from the large ensemble piece Salt March, that celebrates Gandhi’s non-violent protest action, to his more intimate Awaz Trio album Nocturne, that reimagines Indian night ragas within jazz improvisation. Mittal’s ever growing body of work reflects his love of sound, playing with musical convention, and the exploration of hybrid culture. Aakash Mittal’s awards and honors include the Chamber Music America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music (2012), the Herb Albert/ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award (2013), and the American Institute of Indian Studies Creative and Performing Arts Fellowship (2013). Mittal is currently a Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music Fellow. Aakash Mittal lives in Brooklyn, New York with his wife, son and a collection of tabletop games.
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The Jazz Gallery is a not-for-profit arts organization presenting emerging artists who challenge convention, take creative risks, and lead their field as performers, composers and thinkers. We provide a platform for artists to discover their unique voice and a home for established musicians to continue to experiment and grow. At The Jazz Gallery, artists and audiences come together from around the world to explore new creative ideas, collaborate and celebrate jazz as a dynamic art form that reflects our ever-changing world.
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