01.19.10 | The New Year
2010 is off to a great start. I am excited to have updated this website so that it matches our latest release "Videsh." I will be returning to India to continue to study music with Tanmoy Bose and Prattyush Banerjee. There will be a project this spring involving a guest artist. Hopefully, another midwest tour. summer festivals, and new compositions will will be coming together as well. Please check the "calendar" for performance updates.

A new addition to the website is the "download" section. Check in for free download-able music, photos, and lead sheets of our compositions for anyone who is interested.

All the best!

Aakash--

09.03.09 | VIDESH CD release dates!
We are excited to release our second independent recording, titled “VIDESH,” this November. A twelve-movement suite performed continuously, Videsh was inspired by my first trip to India, my father’s homeland. Each movement programmatically represents a different aspect of my experience and musically draws from an eclectic array of styles including jazz, modern grooves/effects, the avant-garde, and elements of Indian music. VIDESH will be a unique musical experience for Colorado audiences.

We will be releasing the CD in Ft. Collins, Loveland, Boulder, and Denver. See the "Itinerary" page for more details.

04.27.09 | The Aakash Mittal Quartet Featuring Amir ElSaffar
We had an amazing time performing and hanging out with NY based trumpet player Amir Elsaffar. His original music draws from both Jazz and Iraqi traditions and is therefore utterly unique in of itself. Our first gig was at Loveland High School. This was both a performance and an opportunity for anyone to ask questions. Amir talked about the tradition of Iraqi maqam and performed on both trumpet and santoor. He also got the audience to participate in singing a traditional Iraqi song.

Our second gig was at the Larimer County Community College. We had a great listening audience. Everyone seemed to be touched by Amir's artistry and the music seemed to come together even more after the previous performance and rehearsals. After the show the band and Amir went over to the UNC Jazz Festival late night jam where Dave Pietro and the Mingus sax section were jamming with the UNC faculty trio.

Our final performance was at Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge. This was an amazing experience. The room was nearly sold out twice and after two performances and rehearsals the music really peaked. The audience response was great and there seemed to be a real appreciation of the originality of the quartet's and Amir's music. A number of musicians and critics also came out making it a really special night.

Personally I learned a lot about music from hanging with Amir. I especially made some connections between the middle eastern influence on north indian classical music. North Indian music does seem to have elements of both traditional south Indian music as well as influences from the Maqam or other arabic styles. Over all the experience was incredible and we hope to have Amir back out in Colorado soon!

03.01.09 | Returned from India
I spent the month of February studying Classical Indian music in Calcutta, India. It was an amazing experience that exceeded my expectations all around! I was fortunate enough to get to stay with the family of tabla player Pandit Tanmoy Bose. He is an amazing master of the tabla who tours regularly with Pandit Ravi Shankar. You can find out more about him at www.tanmoybose.com. During this trip I gave my first international performance at Oxford Bookstore in Calcutta. I performed with Pandit Tanmoy Bose as well as several other amazing musicians in Calcutta. An article was published in "Hindustan Times" about the performance. I studied music with an amazing teacher, Prattyush Banerjee. He is a fabulous sarod player who has a natural talent for teaching as well as a good understanding of American jazz.

10.17.08 | Premier of "Octet on Rag Yamen" plus more reviews
The composition I was commissioned to write for Ethos West will be premiered on Sunday Oct. 19th. The Coloradoan ran a great article on the composition. Musico Pro, a boulder based magazine with distribution in 15 countries through out the Americas, printed a great review of "Possible Beginnings." Possible Beginnings is also now available for sale at Anthology Book Co. in loveland Co.

07.08.08 | Reviews of "Possible Beginnings" by Westword and Scene Magazine
Westword (Denver) and Scene Magazine (Ft. Collins) gave "Possible Beginnings" great reviews. Read them under the "press" tab.

05.01.08 | Three articles on the Aakash Mittal Quartet
The CD release party at the Rialto theater was a huge success. Part of that success is due to the articles written about the Quartet in the Reporter Herald, The Rocky Mountain Chronicle, and the Coloradoan. I have put these articles up for every one to read under the press section of the website. Enjoy!