On Jazztopad’s first Saturday, we will be treated to a sonic feast, bridging diverse musical territories: American traditions, Western and Central Europe, Pakistan, the Balkans, and Iraq. Sharing the stage, SUTARInova and Shahzad Ismaily create one of those unexpected pairings that leave the audience thinking, “Why didn't anyone come up with this sooner?” The second part of the evening will feature the work of the Amir ElSaffar Quartet.

The Sutari trio has recently evolved into SUTARInova, expanding the project to include Filip Zakrzewski, who handles electronics and effects. Traditional “white voice” vocals and acoustic instruments are now accompanied by electronic sounds, resulting in a more open, improvisational form. For this premiere project at the NFM, the group joins forces with Shahzad Ismaily. Ismaily emerged on the New York scene in the early 2000s as a fully formed artist, an accomplished drummer, double bassist, and producer deeply attuned to the spiritual dimension of his craft. With interests spanning free jazz, rock, and world music, he quickly became one of the most sought-after and prolific touring musicians. 

After the intermission, the Amir ElSaffar Quartet will perform. ElSaffar was playing microtonal music long before the world went wild for Angine de Poitrine. A microtonal piano will take center stage, played by Tania Giannouli. Ole Mathisen, who also explores microtonality, will be on saxophone, while the versatile Tomas Fujiwara will play the drums. In 2012, ElSaffar recorded the legendary album Post-Chromodal Out! with Hafez Modirzadeh. The current music of the quartet led by one of contemporary jazz’s most creative trumpeters stems from that concept.