Jaggat

Jaggat skilfully spans virtuoso sound bridges between chamber music jazz and music from a wide variety of cultures. Spanish, Indian, Arabic, African and Latin American influences combine to create an expressive musical melange. The result is eclectic music that is homogeneous and radiates its own identity; music that transcends culturally specific categories and forms a multi-faceted, unique musical spectrum.

The original compositions by Conrad and van Meel fit together wonderfully and yet reveal the specific identity of each composer. The influence of jazz icons such as Dave Holland, John McLaughlin and Chick Corea is unmistakable. The musicians have also studied classical composers such as Bach, Stravinsky and Debussy, oriental music by Anouar Brahem and Indian music by Zakir Hussain and Ravi Shankar. It is no coincidence that the band chose the name Jaggat (from Sanskrit: world).

The quartet line-up offers an astonishing variety of sound colours; Mussawisade plays a unique combination of percussion instruments from different cultures; van Meel is active both as a soloist and as an accompanist, taking on melodies and playing extensively bowed arco passages; Conrad draws on his experience in a wide range of styles from rock to flamenco and plays complex chord-melody arrangements and virtuoso solos with seeming ease; König draws on the full sonority of his instrument and enriches the band's sound with his playing, which is rooted in classical music and influenced by jazz.

The musicians of Jaggat want to show that acceptance and an open attitude towards other cultures can lead to something new and beautiful. Just as openness and tolerance enriches music, it can also enrich human dialogue and our culture & society.

The New Colours Festival writes about Jaggat: 'What a joy of improvisation and soulful light-footedness! The way acoustic bass, guitar and an arsenal of Persian hand drums unite in world music and chamber music jazz could hardly be more of a consensus. This vibrant and sensitive sound journey transports you to another world.

History

Jaggat is the continuation of the long-standing collaboration between guitarist Markus Conrad and double bassist Caspar van Meel. Their passion for acoustic music and musical cultures has brought them together again. Conrad studied at the Conservatorium in Arnhem, was a winner of the JazzwerkRuhrPrize and the Open Strings, among others, and is known from the band Grand Jam on Hendrix. Van Meel studied at the Folkwang University, is a successful bandleader of projects such as Satie: A Time Remembered, the Caspar van Meel Quintet and was a winner of the JazzwerkRuhrPrize and the Future Sounds competition. He can be heard as a sideman on numerous CDs and has worked with the WDR Big Band, Philipp Catherine and Götz Alsmann, among others.

Van Meel got to know the Iranian percussionist Afra Mussawisade during a collaboration with WDR trumpeter Rob Bruynen and recognised him as the perfect addition to the band. Afra has developed his very own style, setup and technique. He was taught classical Persian percussion, studied at the Rotterdam Conservatory and the conservatories of Santiago de Cuba and Havana, South Indian percussion at Kamataka College and has worked with the WDR Big Band, Till Brönner, Jeffrey Bruinsma, Mezzoforte and Drums United, among others.

After a first concert in the Kunsthalle Recklinghausen, it was clear that the project should be continued and developed. The musicians planned an album and invited violinist Christoph König as a guest for some of the songs. He has dedicated himself to crossing musical boundaries between classical, jazz, pop and music cultures. In addition to concerts with the ensemble Uwaga!, he has arranged and composed for the WDR Funkhausorchester, Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong and Klazz Brothers, among others. The album 'Jaggat' was recorded in March 2023. The release and a tour are planned for 2025 / 2026.

Line-Up:

Markus Conrad: Acoustic Guitar

Caspar van Meel: Double Bass

Afra Mussawisade: Percussion

Christoph König: Violin