Amir ElSaffar and David Rawlings

Trumpet/composer Amir ElSaffar is a classically trained, experimental performer known for his ambitious blend of post-bop jazz, traditional Iraqi maqam, and other Arabic musical traditions. ElSaffar first garnered attention working with Vijay Iyer and Rudresh Mahanthappa before showcasing his cross-pollinated sound on 2007's Two Rivers and 2011's Inana. Along with collaborations alongside saxophonist Hafez Modirzadeh, he also leads the 17-piece Rivers of Sound ensemble, with which he has released 2017's Not Two and 2021's The Other Shore. Born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1977 t...