Rudresh Mahanthappa's Gamak and Amir ElSaffar

Hear the delicious results of the quintessential American art form colliding and coalescing with Iraqi and Indian musical traditions. Amir ElSaffar opens this double bill with his innovative jazz trumpeting, incorporating microtones specific to Arabic music into his compositions. With his alto saxophone, Rudresh Mahanthappa delivers a pioneering style rooted in jazz, but influenced by everything from hip-hop to heavy metal to classical Indian music. It’s a heady mix that has garnered Mahanthappa and his quartet, Gamak, accolades and awards from around the globe.