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Iraqi-American Amir ElSaffar is a jazz trumpeter and composer, as well as a santour (hammered dulcimer) player and singer. His Two Rivers sextet includes both Middle Eastern (Arabic lutes oud, buzuq; percussion) and Western instruments (saxophone, bass, and drumset).The hypnotic and arresting repertoire of the group is focused on joining the melodic and rhythmic structures of the maqam tradition of Iraq with contemporary jazz music.
For information on a Master Class with Amir, click here.
Courtyard Concert Series sponsored by Yale-New Haven Hospital and Yale New Haven Health
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June 16, 2010, 2:58 pm
Willa Fitzgerald wrote:
Watching Amir ElSaffar and Two Rivers Ensemble was a profound experience. The ways in which ElSaffar and his ensemble married jazz and the maqam tradition into a seamless narrative of music was captivating to behold. As it turns out, these two seemingly opposite styles complement each other and weave a tapestry of lush melodies and invigorating rhythms. The result is a performance that will have maqam and jazz connoisseurs alike moved by the fusion and possibly even propelled to a deeper appreciation.
Amir ElSaffar’s own precision and mastery of the trumpet was compelling. His solo with only the bass as accompaniment was particularly memorable. It was a ballad of longing and nostalgia, of patience and desire. I was amazed by his ability to convey so much in such an understated fashion.
This was one of those rare concert experiences where you leave the venue but still take something substantial with you. I left with a new understanding of jazz and a completely new appreciation for maqam, along with a desire to discover more about the culture that created such a lush and complex musical dialogue.
June 16, 2010, 9:22 pm
Helen wrote:
“Two Rivers” refers both to the Tigris and the Euphrates, which join near Baghdad, and to the two musical traditions – Western Jazz and Middle-Eastern maqam – that are both strongly present in ElSaffar’s recent work. This has inspired some of the usual talk about the blending of cultures, about the work as a kind of peace project. One can wonder, though, whether the work doesn’t rather expose incompatibilities or differences, and whether it isn’t an assimilation of one culture into the other rather than a ‘blending.’ The virtuosic work need not be interpreted as a political effort, so much as a gesture of artistic curiosity and ingenuity.
June 16, 2010, 10:55 pm
Amrita Konaiagari wrote:
Firstly, let me start by saying that the Amir Elsafar concert was beyond brilliant! Few minutes into the concert, I felt like I was in an eastern country like Pakistan, Iraq or India. The music deported me to another place because it had the power to do so. It was hard to bring myself back because the distinction was so blurred by the fusion of the two worlds. The band beautifully combined eastern and western styles to create another genre of jazz. The very fact that the band is audacious enough to use varied instruments, shows us that their music is fresh, bold, exceptional and intense. Their music is an emotionally charged work that invokes ancient Iraqi musical traditions and frames them in a modern Jazz setting.
June 21, 2010, 5:15 pm
Paul wrote:
This was the best concert I’ve seen at the Festival; Amir ElSaffar brings the Two Rivers together in many senses and creates almost a new kind of music. It’s a wonderful experience and presents the kind of boldness that this Festival and all festivals should present.
June 28, 2010, 9:49 am
Vasundhara Adukia wrote:
It is often said that music is the language of the soul, which cannot be translated through either words or gestures. Amir ElSaffar and the Two Rivers Ensemble’s music transcends all barriers of religion, culture and language to enchant your soul and leave you humming to yourself for the rest of the night.
All the members of the band were excellent but the real star of the evening was drummer, Nasheet Waits, whose solo performance was electrifying and made me wonder whether he was hiding an extra pair of hands somewhere.
Also highly noticeable was the camaraderie between the members of the ensemble who genuinely seemed to enjoy, not just playing in front of an audience but also each other’s company.
As the musicians took their bows under the darkening sky and the cool breeze, I couldn’t help but think how even the atmosphere seemed to be in perfect harmony with their music. It was certainly one of the best music concerts I have ever attended.
June 28, 2010, 4:15 pm
Molly wrote:
Amir ElSaffar’s music has the rare ability to venture into new musical territory. The combination of iraqi traditional song and jazz has never been so in synch, if it has ever been so deeply experimented with. The setting of the Yale Law School courtyard at sunset was breathtaking.