Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily: Tiny Desk Concert

Nate Chinen | May 12, 2023
Around the midpoint of Arooj Aftab, pianist Vijay Iyer and multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily's Tiny Desk concert as the trio Love in Exile, Aftab steeply intensifies her vocal outflow, generating a spirit of lift within the music. It's the cresting of a wave, in a sense, but no more inherently vital than the accumulating swell period, or the ensuing glide. For Aftab and her equal partners in the project, every musical offering arises from a slow-motion flutter of collective actions, which renders each passing moment unique.

That's a fanciful way of saying what the music invites you to understand at gut level: this group makes music strictly for the moment, creating a shared language in real time. As its members explained this spring, before the release of their entrancing self-titled debut, this highwire creative model is rooted in acute listening and mutual trust. Whatever the gesture — when Iyer plays a somber, strobing figure on Fender Rhodes piano, for example, or Ismaily wobbles a line on electric bass — it can be seen as an invitation. This performance, a marvel of concision by Love in Exile standards, extends a similar courtesy to any receptive ear.

SET LIST
"Eyes Of The Endless"

MUSICIANS
Vijay Iyer: Fender Rhodes, piano
Arooj Aftab: vocals
Shahzad Ismaily: bass, Moog

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bob Boilen
Director/Editor: Maia Stern
Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Maia Stern, Kara Frame, Sofia Seidel
Audio Assistant: Hannah Gluvna
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Joshua Bryant, Marissa Lorusso, Hazel Cills, Ashley Pointer, Pilar Galván, Jill Britton
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#nprmusic #tinydesk #vijayiyer #aroojaftab #shahzadismaily

[mursalnicole]

Im a first generation born Afghani American woman and I saw you and dragged all my friends to your set. Amazingly beautiful. So happy for you in that moment and all of us brown woman🎉❤❤. Congratulations on tiny desk !

[sarah_k_kreative]

The levels of skill, trust, and imagination displayed by these musicians is truly sublime. Thank you for sharing your incredible gifts.

[vctlnr]

Shahzad Ismaily is such a tasteful and versatile collaborator

[anshmehta]

Vijay Iyer is one of the most mesmerising improvisational artists out there. To anyone watching this, I cannot recommend enough that you check out his album Uneasy with Linda Oh and Tyshawn Sorey - it’s one of most powerful examples of art as resistance I’ve experienced!

[michaelfoxbrass]

This music began before the time and place in which it was expressed, and it continues even if we are not willing or able to discern it’s presence. This music began before a single soul was conceived and continues after all souls cease. Music unheard, permeates and molds lives, deaths, loves, ignorance, pain, joy, wisdom. It is music of all times and places and of neither.

[joyceglasgow]

So beautiful and meditative! Thank you!🙏

[lucg]

been to her concert in Berlin last November. She's just magnificent, as is her band. the guitarist played such magical tunes. 10/10 would again.

[lauralevitan]

Wow thank you for transporting me to another place. I have added you to my playlist as well.

[tochiagu]

Absolutely incredible. Arooj has the most magical voice and the composition is out of this world!

[dahsaw]

Great stuff. Wonderful delivery by the vocalist; beautiful colours created by the accompanists! Meditative and atmospheric!

[iamkerok]

Just felt like I was floating through that....

[mostboringyoutubechannel]

I had the good fortune to watch her perform live last night at the jazz festival۔ One word reaction، " Otherworldly"۔ Just with her voice modulations and variations، she picks you up from the depths of your soul and takes you on unknown journeys۔ My gosh، what an experience۔ Listening to her live leaves a long lasting impact on you۔ She was generous enough to stop and give an autograph and accept a gift from me۔ May she flourish even more and continue to be our guide to uncharted journeys of the soul۔ Stay blessed Arooj Aftab۔

[jaganshri]

Wonderful. What a beautiful interpretation of the traditional Hindustani Thumri 'Ras ke bhare torey nain' ("Your eyes full of passion").
Great vocals and really sensitive accompanists. Each one a virtuoso.

[moomatre]

this is great, like all of Arooj Aftab
see and hear also this:
Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily - Shadow Forces

[govindasgarden]

saw them play at big ears fest... i get zoned out listening to this (in a good way)

[Freakangel]

Even the objects seem to listen to them

[felixkrell]

Listening to her on good speakers is an amazing experience, NPR again with an awesome recording!

I hope to see her live one day

[tomas]

Takes you to an entirely new level. Mesmerizing, contemplative, beautiful!🎵🎶🎶🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵👏👏👏

[ValtintimeGaming]

always when she hits the in between notes i am losing it

[jaivkoltun]

Amazing vox and textures. . . The sound of the Moog Rogue is like no other synth. . .