Musician Talk and Q&A: Amirtha Kidambi

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC | Musician Amirtha Kidambi will give a short vocal performance and teaching demonstration, followed by a Q&A, during Music Workshop.

Amirtha Kidambi is invested in the creation and performance of subversive anti-hegemonic music, from free improvisation and avant-jazz, to experimental bands, noise and new music. She is an educator, activist and organizer working to challenge systems of white supremacist, colonial, capitalist, patriarchy, and is co-founder and co-organizer of South Asian Artists in Diaspora and Musicians Against Police Brutality.

As a bandleader and composer, she is the creative force behind the incendiary protest group Elder Ones and has received critical praise for dual releases on Northern Spy records from the New York Times, Pitchfork, Wire Magazine and Downbeat, topping Critics Poll in the categories of "Rising Star Vocalist", "Rising Star Composer" and "Rising Star Jazz Group". Kidambi is active in several improvising duos with bassist Luke Stewart, guitarist Matteo Liberatore and Neti-Neti with percussionist Matt Evans, with releases on Astral Spirits, Tripticks Tapes and Dinzu Artefacts. Kidambi is a key collaborator in MacArthur “genius” Mary Halvorson's sextet Code Girl, the duo Angels & Demons with saxophonist Darius Jones (setting the poetry of Sun Ra) and in various collaborations with bassist William Parker. She had the honor of working with late elders Muhal Richard Abrams, founder of the AACM, and new music opera composer Robert Ashley.

She has performed and presented her music in the U.S. and internationally at Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, The Kitchen, Whitney Museum, MoMA PS1, Berlin Jazzfest, Big Ears Festival and various DIY and punk spaces. Kidambi has received grants from the Jerome Foundation, Asian Cultural Council, Mid-Atlantic Arts and artist residencies at EMPAC, Roulette, Pioneer Works and Bucareli 69 in Mexico City. She holds degrees in vocal performance, musicology and ethnomusicology from Loyola Marymount University, Brooklyn College and Columbia University, and has been engaged with decolonizing curriculum, teaching courses and ensembles at The New School and Brooklyn College.

Music Workshop is held on Tuesdays in the Deane Carriage Barn from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. Join us to share or just to listen! A place to present, listen, perform, discuss, experience, and enjoy all aspects of music.