AROOJ AFTAB, VIJAY IYER & SHAHZAD ISMAILY : LOVE IN EXILE

 Backstage after their 2018 debut show in their adopted hometown of New York City, Shahzad Ismaily asked Arooj Aftab and Vijay Iyer to huddle together and reflect on what had just occurred. “We felt it from the first moment,” remembers Iyer. “We were mystified and almost silent and said: I don’t know what just happened. But we should do that again.” They hadn’t prepared material in advance; the potent chemistry surprised even these seasoned collaborators. This was music in the moment. Words couldn’t define it, but the audience felt it, and joined the emotional journey.

Individually, their accolades are substantial: vocalist Arooj Aftab was the first Pakistani to win a Grammy, Vijay Iyer is one of today’s most influential pianists and multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily’s sensitivity and technical acumen has made him a legend among musicians like the late Lou Reed for whom he was a session player. Yet the marvel here is how ego disappears as the three players merge to create a singular, gorgeous sound.

By creating in real time, without any prior preparations, the three musicians make a collective moment for both themselves and the audience. Many listeners will find it easier to remember how each song made them feel and what each song did to their sense of attention rather than specific melodies. Love In Exile is the power of music, how it moves us and invites us to love.