Arun Ghosh presents Aaj Kal Trio

Clarinettist Arun Ghosh presents Aaj Kal Trio, a new band making its debut at Arnolfini in Bristol. The group pairs his clarinet with double bass and tabla.

Arun Ghosh is a British Asian clarinettist, and this project brings together his clarinet with Shivraj Singh on double bass and Dalbir Singh Rattan, a UK tabla player and percussionist. The group is a new band, presented and premiered on this visit to Bristol, and it is commissioned and produced by Asian Arts Agency for its New Sounds festival.

The music returns to Ghosh's South Asian roots, drawing on the raags and taals of his albums Northern Namaste and A South Asian Suite. The tabla takes a central role, providing the groove over which the clarinet improvises. The material cites Ustad Bismillah Khan and John Coltrane as influences on that approach, and places the trio format alongside wind, bass and rhythm groups led by Charles Lloyd, Joe Henderson and Sonny Rollins.

The group also draws on drum 'n'bass, UK downtempo and a Stone Roses-era feel, reflecting its British Asian identity. The concert suits listeners interested in jazz that blends South Asian melody with western rhythmic styles. Arnolfini is a concert and performance venue on Narrow Quay in Bristol.