Aman Mahajan

Gimme A Key: Jagriti Festival of Western Music

Day 2: Aman Mahajan

REFUGE is a set of musical themes composed by pianist Aman Mahajan, performed in various configurations, from solo piano to quintet. Equal parts structured and improvised, the music combines the spirit of jazz with a myriad of folk and classical influences, and is deeply inspired by a sense of connection and the universal search for sanctuary. “refuge.1” is a solo piano iteration of this project.

 Aman Mahajan

Aman Mahajan is a pianist, composer and improviser based in Bangalore, India, playing improvised music across a diversity of musical idioms. His current work is influenced by traditional and contemporary forms of music from around the world, often concept-driven, and inspired by a sense of unity and connection. He is keenly interested in improvised music as a medium of interaction and exploration.

A graduate of The Berklee College of Music, Mahajan is presently based in Bangalore, involved with his solo piano project refuge.1, and other collaborations including Tinctures with Berlin-based guitarist Nishad Pandey, 2 For the Road with vocalist Radha Thomas, and an upcoming duo with tabla player and percussionist Muthu Kumar.

Focused on the growth and development of contemporary improvised music in India, Mahajan also teaches music privately at his piano studio in Bangalore and has been a returning faculty member at the Global Music Institute, Greater Noida.

He has performed widely on the Indian music circuit, and in Europe and USA, at a number of music venues, concert halls and music festivals, including Jazzwerkstatt Graz (Austria, 2018), Jazz Utsav (New Delhi, 2017), EUROPAFest (Sinaia, 2015), Festival of Sacred Music (Thiruvaiyaru, 2015), Goa Jazz Festival (Goa, 2014), IndiEarth XChange (Madras, 2014), Kasauli Rhythm & Blues Festival (Kasauli, 2014), goMAD Festival (Ooty, 2013) and MAD Festival (Ooty, 2012).