Keegan Tawa, a Philadelphia-based saxophonist, duduk player, composer, and engineer, is staged to move the needle on jazz with his upcoming sophomore album, Tessellation. Releasing on May 17, 2024, this album is a unique confluence of traditional and modern musical narratives, bringing together 25 artists from diverse cultural backgrounds, including Turkey, Iran, Tunisia, Israel, India, China, and the United States.
Tawa is inspired by geometric and Maqam-style melodies, which are evident in the album’s structured yet fluid musical expressions. This innovative fusion respects musical heritage worldwide and pushes the boundaries of what is possible in jazz.
Tessellation is an ambitious project that marries Pan-Arabic and Persian melodic styles with the sophistication of jazz. The album features a variety of traditional instruments, like the duduk (an Armenian wind instrument), intertwined with cutting-edge electronic sounds, creating a sonic experience that’s both ancient and futuristic.
The album’s creation process reflects Tawa’s vision of super-collaboration, where artists from various cultural and musical backgrounds converge. This rich collaboration has led to a tapestry of sounds that includes Carnatic vocals from India, Chinese string instruments, and Turkish percussion, all layered beautifully with Tawa’s jazz-infused saxophone melodies and electronic arrangements.
For Tessellation, Keegan Tawa enlisted an amazing lineup of musicians. Collaborators include John Colman (Philadelphia) on Bass Guitar, Debasmita Bhattacharya (West Bengal) on Sarod, Chris Castellanos (Las Vegas) on French Horn, Sophia Vastek (Troy, NY) on Felt Piano, and several more global musical talents.
Tessellation’s overarching theme is its ability to transcend geographical, political, and linguistic barriers, promoting unity and empathy through the universal language of music. It exemplifies how artists can come together to create a harmonious and cohesive work of art despite differences, much like tessellations themselves—where distinct shapes fit together to form a complete and seamless design.
As Kegan Tawa himself might suggest, Tessellation is a manifesto of musical futurism, a beacon for the collaborative spirit of diverse artists around the globe.
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