A Sound Heart

Description

The main members of Jaubi are true masters in their field, coming from a rich lineage of accomplished musicians. Kashif Ali Dhani is a classical-trained tabla master from the Punjab gharana, and is the go-to accompanist on the local scene for some of the greatest classical singers and instrumentalists from Pakistan, as well as in Europe and the United States. Zohaib Hassan Khan is a 7th generation sarangi master, who has performed worldwide, and is one of only three remaining professional sarangi players in Pakistan. The multi-instrumentalist, composer, and conductor of Jaubi, Ali Riaz Baqar, aka Ila Zair, began his musical journey as a hip-hop enthusiast, evolving into a jazz guitarist after being exposed to the rich sampling culture of the genre. He then became a disciple of the Senia-Shahjahanpur gharana, a lineage of musicians specializing in the sarod. His playing now focuses on blending North Indian classical music with the harmony of modern jazz on a traditional unaltered 6-string electric guitar.
The collaboration between the core group and broader collaborators dates back to April 2019, when the founder of the 22A label and multi-instrumentalist Tenderlonious and the keyboard and synthesizer master of EABS/Bloto Marek "Latarnik" Pedziwiatr traveled to Lahore, Pakistan, to participate in improvised recording sessions with Jaubi.
An adventurous and absorbing record, "A Sound Heart," is the next chapter of Jaubi, both sonically and spiritually. The title is inspired by a verse from the Holy Quran (26:89), where one comes to God with a spiritual or sound heart (Qalb) that is sincere, free of doubts, and free from material attachments. The album also acts as a tribute to fallen heroes, honoring the greatness that preceded them, shedding new light through intercultural collaboration and improvisation. Throughout this incredible journey, meditative ragas intertwine with Herbie Hancock-like motifs, joined by contemporary melodies filled with lamentations interweaving with the complex sounds of the sarangi and the earthy layering of the tabla. A true masterpiece of composition from beginning to end.