BRATTLEBORO — The Vermont Jazz Center launches its 10-week “Emerging Artist” season with a choice that fits its concept perfectly.
As the goal of the series is to present young musicians who deserve to be heard - those on the cutting edge, performing original, fresh, high-quality music - then Kavita Shah is all that and more.
A talented singer, Shah also is a tireless organizer with a vision and a body of work challenging the definition of jazz while paying deep respect to its lineage.
She will be performing with her New York-based ensemble: Kavita Shah (U.S.) vocals and percussion; Yacouba Sissoko (Mali) on kora; Guy Mintus (Israel) piano; Or Bareket (Israel) bass; and Kenneth Salters (U.S.) drums
VJC says in its event announcement that Shah's vision is eclectic and unified, incorporating the many elements that, when combined, form the essence of her complex persona: Brazilian sambas, African grooves, bebop, jazz standards, hip-hop, and a deep family connection to the music of India.
Through innovative compositions and arrangements in English, Spanish, and Portuguese (she is fluent in all three), Shah transcends the static brand of “fusion.” Indeed, VJC says, through this emerging talent, elements of jazz, Indian, and African music interact on equal footing.