Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM
Line-up:
Asha Parkinson – Alto saxophone, Tenor saxophone, Soprano saxophone,
Konstantinos Glunos – Qanun
Ben Comeau – Piano
Tristan Butler – Drum kit
Charlie Heywood – Electric guitar
Harry Pearce – Bass guitar
About
Founded by saxophonist/composer, Asha Parkinson in 2017, Kalpadruma is an exciting collective exploring connection between Arabic, Turkish, Indian, Contemporary Classical and Jazz musics, led by saxophonist/ composer Asha Parkinson. The group have collaborated with SAMYO (South Asian Youth Orchestra) and the Orchestra of Syrian Musicians. In its fourth year, the group has played at several high-profile venues including the London Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, the Jazz Seven Leeds series and the Union Chapel. Their debut album ‘Onwards’ was released at the Spice of Life in June 2022.
While the do-dectet formation performs Asha’s large-scale compositions, the sextet explore more open-ended versions of the repertoire, alongside various influences. The set will feature sextet arrangements of works from the 2021 Encounters Suite: a past collaboration between Kalpadruma and members of the Orchestra of Syrian Musicians. Complimenting this will be sextet arrangements from the group’s debut album ‘Onwards’ and other influences, such as Paco de Lucia, Rebetiko, and Turkish bağlama music.
Asha Parkinson is an accomplished saxophonist, composer, and arranger whose work regularly crosses boundaries between traditions. As a performer, she was three times semi-finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician competition. Meanwhile, as a composer she was shortlisted in the BBC Inspire Composers’ Competition in 2016, and a finalist in the 2019 Society for Recorder Players’ Composer Competition and shortlisted for the Ligeti Quartet’s 2020 Workout Scheme.
Asha’s compositional style brings together a wide range of influences, ranging from Arabic maqam, flamenco compas, Indian tala to the modal polyphony of the Notre Dame School and Olivier Messiaen.