Amirtha Kidambi’s Elder Ones + Longleash

From tight rhythmic unisons to expansive, wandering melodic lines, Amirtha Kidambi’s Elder Ones and Longleash represent many possible futures for contemporary experimental music. Each group features highly accomplished, technically virtuosic musicians, conversant in a wide range of musical styles and idioms, driven by the goal of an ever-expanding musical vernacular.

Elder Ones, a quartet performing the compositions of vocalist Amirtha Kidambi, lies nestled in a Venn diagram of diverse musical spheres and communities in New York City. Bandleader Kidambi performs on harmonium and draws her vocal influence from both Indian Carnatic and Western Classical training. With saxophonist Matt Nelson, bassist Brandon Lopez, and drummer Max Jaffe, the band expands its influence to the realm of hip-hop and free improvisation. Oscillating between modal, Sufi-like circular grooves and jagged, brutal rhythmic constructions, the band equally suspects Thyagaraja, Coltrane, and Stockhausen as illegitimate fathers of their sound. 

Named for the Cold War-era CIA program that aimed to undermine Soviet culture by secretly disseminating art from the American avant-garde, Longleash relish the paradox of experimental sound. Formed in 2013 by violinist Pala Garcia, cellist John Popham, and pianist Renate Rohlfing, the group is focused on the commissioning and performance of music by emerging composers. Pursuing the freedom of exploration within a pre-determined set of limitations, they mine the depths of the traditional piano trio in search of sounds and ideas yet undiscovered. This performance featured works by Juan de Dios Magdaleno, Francesco Filidei, Yukiko Watanabe, Christopher Trapani, and Clara Iannotta. 

PROGRAM

Longleash Trio

clara iannotta, Il colore dell’ombra

yukiko watanabe, ver_flies_sen

chistopher trapani, Passing Through, 

    Staying Put

juan de dios magdaleno, Strange Attractors

francesco filidei, Corde Vuote

pala garcia, violin

john popham, cello

renate rohlfing, piano

Amirtha Kidambi’s Elder Ones, 

Mother Tongues Suite - 

i. Sathya-Yuga

ii. Treta-Yuga

iii. Dvapara-Yuga

iv. Kali-Yuga

amirtha kidambi, voice/harmonium 

+ compositions

matt nelson, soprano saxophone

brandon lopez, bass

max jaffe, drums/percussion