Ganavya

Born in Flushing, Queens and raised in Tamil Nadu, a state in South India, she was deeply immersed in the Hindu tradition of harikatha. It is a type of storytelling that blends music and poetry.  The deep bond with an artist like Alice Coltrane – who in the last decade has become one of the definitive influences on a new generation in American jazz and beyond - is evident in Ganavyas music. But Ganavya also has the artistic vision to point the way forward for this music. 

Ganavyas new album Nilam is out May 23rd. Last year’s Daughter of a Temple became a special event, combining tradition with contemporary sensibilities and a truly stellar cast of performers. Ganavya gathered some of the biggest names in the current jazz landscape, players such as Esperanza Spalding, Shabaka Hutchings, Immanuel Wilkins, Wadada Leo Smith and Vijay Iyer. Last, but not least, the album featured one of the final recordings by legendary saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter, performing the chant “Nam Myoho Renge Kyo” together with his wife. But, as anyone who’s heard Ganavya’s music will probably testify to, star power isn’t the most important thing in this music. Rather, Daughter of a Temple is filled with acts of musical humbleness and curiosity – both on the part of the listener and the musician. This autumn, Ganavya will perform at Kulturkirken Jakob – a venue uniquely suited to her music.