HOUSTON, April 16, 2024— In the concert "Improvisation Across Cultures," Houston-based groups Riyaaz Qawwali and the Jalen Baker Ensemble came together at Asia Society Texas for a thrilling and unique collaboration as the musicians sought common ground between qawwali and jazz, two distinct musical traditions rooted in improvisation while drawing on spiritual and secular themes.

While qawwali is an expression arising from South Asia and rooted in Islam, jazz has emerged from gospel music and Black church traditions to take on a secular space. As qawwali evolves, it too has produced secular music, yet continues to be categorized within its traditional connotations. The two traditions are similar in their use of improvisation, with both emphasizing spontaneous creativity within the music and featuring rhythmic complexity, using intricate patterns to create their soundscapes. Additionally, both qawwali and jazz convey deep emotions and spiritual expression, whether through themes of love in qawwali or the emotional range of jazz improv. Despite originating from different cultural backgrounds, these similarities highlight the universality of music as a means of creative expression and emotional connection.

The concert opened by rooting the performers in their respective musical traditions, with Riyaaz Qawwali playing the traditional qawwali "Chaap tilak," followed by the Jalen Baker Ensemble's rendition of "Jazz Ballad," anchored by Brandon Willis's vocals. The remaining performances incorporated members from both groups as they improvised around songs based in either qawwali or jazz, frequently trading leads and solos. During Thelonius Monk's "Bemsha Swing," Riyaaz Qawwali's Sonny Mehta used the harmonium to build off both forms, and during other numbers, each group's percussionist engaged in rhythmic conversations with alternating solos. Participating in the performance with their own improvisation, the audience combined the rhythmic clapping of qawwali tradition with shout-outs and encouragements for the soloists. The concert concluded with a crowd-pleasing medley of Bollywood songs.

Curated by Mehta, the performance successfully highlighted underrecognized soundscapes of the South while creating new traditions where Black and Brown voices unite to celebrate the diversity of our musical heritages.

AST thanks the program sponsors, especially Kawai Piano Gallery who provided the Shigeru Kawai piano for the concert.

Musicians

Riyaaz Qawwali
The ensemble of Riyaaz Qawwali consists of musicians from Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu traditions and multiple ethnic backgrounds.

Jalen Baker Ensemble
Jalen Baker, Vibraphone
Al Moyler, Bass
Sam Knight, Drums
Brandon Willis, Piano and Vocals

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.