Saxophonist Zoh Amba developed her impressive volume through practicing in the open air, in the forest near Kingsport, Tennessee, where she grew up. Melodies from folk and gospel resonate in her intense improvisations on tenor sax and flute. She currently lives in New York, where she studied with David Murray and where she connected with the avant-jazz scene. Her debut album O, Sun was released on John Zorn’s label Tzadik.

Under the group name Bhakti, Zoh Amba performs in various line-ups, at this concert with bassist Farida Amadou and drummer Chris Corsano. The word ‘Bhakti’ comes from Sanskrit and means devotion to god, which is synonymous to music for Zoh Amba. In this conviction she finds kinship with the legendary saxophonist Albert Ayler, one of the originators of free jazz. In recent years, Zoh Amba has performed with, among others, William Parker, Tyshawn Sorey en Vijay Iyer.

Zoh Amba saxophone, Farida Amadou bass, Chris Corsano drums