http://www.aakashmittal.com/
Aakash Mittal
Hailed as “A fiery alto saxophonist and prolific composer” by the Star Tribune (Minneapolis), Aakash Mittal is emerging as a fresh voice in creative music. His self-released album, Videsh, has been regarded as, "point[ing] toward new possibilities in improvised music." (The Denver Post) This stems from his approach to composition and improvisation, where Mittal seeks to create music that relates to his diverse background of both American and East Indian heritage.
Mittal has performed nationally at such venues as The Dakota (Minneapolis), The Cultural Center of Chicago, The Blue Room, (Kansas City) and Dazzle Jazz Club (Denver). Internationally, Aakash Mittal has led a quartet at the Congo Square Jazz Festival in Kolkata, India. As a sideman, Mittal as performed in Kolkata with world-renowned percussionist Pandit Tanmoy Bose’s Taal Tantra, and with the creative music ensemble Kendraka. In 2012 Mittal toured Mexico with Ravish Momin’s Trio Tarana. Other collaborations include PI Recordings artist Amir Elsaffar, avant-garde poet Bhanu Kapil, Yells at Eels with Dennis Gonzalez, and Joining Hands with bharatnatyam dancer Anjal Chande.
As a composer, Aakash Mittal has written extensively for jazz quartet composing over fifty new works. Commissions include, Urban Raga (2011), Transitions (2011), and Questions of Identity (2012) for the Playground Ensemble; Octet on Raga Yaman (2009) for the Ethos West Chamber Orchestra. In 2012 Mittal wrote Meditation for Pictures on Silence saxophone and harp duo. As a leader, Mittal has self-released three recordings, Possible Beginnings, Videsh, and Thumbs Up EP to rave reviews.
In 2012 Aakash Mittal was awarded the Chamber Music America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music. In 2013 Mittal was awarded the Herb Albert/ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award.
Ron Miles
Denver trumpeter Ron Miles' resume includes time with Bill Frisell, Don Byron, the Ellington Orchestra, and Fred Hess’ Boulder Creative Music Ensemble. Besides being solicited all over the world for his unique sound, Ron is a staple of the Denver jazz scene and his recent releases as band leader show off his skills as a composer and arranger as well as a “phenomenally gifted trumpeter” (Bill Milkowski).
A resident of Denver since he was 11, he began playing the trumpet seriously in junior high school and studied music at the University of Denver (1981-1985) and the Manhattan School of Music (1986). Miles says that living in Denver has given him an appreciation for a broad array of musical styles that he might not have acquired elsewhere. “Country and Western music, Latin, jazz, and rock are all popular here, so you find yourself trying out a lot of ideas with other musicians and gaining a healthy respect for the music,” he explains.
Ron Miles was widely recognized as a musical director and arranger with the release of Ginger Baker’s Coward of the County (Atlantic 1999). His compositions anchor that record and highlight the varied influences from which Ron draws inspiration. Hailed as an inventive composer and gifted trumpeter on his solo releases, Ron cruised through the 1990s with a series of well-received releases on Gramavision (My Cruel Heart, Woman’s Day) and Capri (Witness, Ron Miles Trio).
In 2002 Ron slowed it down for a quiet, intimate recording with friend and master jazz guitarist Bill Frisell. Heaven again showcases Ron’s talent as an arranger, particularly on Hank Williams’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart” and Bob Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” (which Ron heard for the first time in the sessions!) According to Bill Frisell, “What is so exciting about Ron is that he really has his own voice. It seems like everything that is going on right now is either very conservative ...Expand to read entire bio >or it rejects everything. Ron has found a way to include everything and not reject things, and still be his own person.” Miles said of his playing with Bill, “I think we share a fondness for striking melody, patience and the importance of individual timbre." .. z..."".".or it rejects everything. Ron has found a way to include everything and not reject things, and still be his own person.” Miles said of his playing with Bill, “I think we share a fondness for striking melody, patience and the importance of individual timbre.”
