Commissioned by Anjan Shah, Nightfall Rhapsody—Rhapsody in राग जोग (Raag Jog) is a mesmerizing 22-minute work by Drew Zaremba, inspired by Gershwin and Rachmaninoff. Seamlessly blending Indian classical, Western classical, and jazz, it celebrates the power of diversity, improvisation, and cultural acceptance. Leading the Chicago Studio Orchestra, Zaremba conducts a premiere featuring Anjan on bansuri flute and tenor sax, Jonathan Epley on guitar, Nabin Shrestha on tabla, and Amy Shook on bass. Embrace the spellbinding interplay of Raag Jog with lush orchestral colors and soulful jazz harmonies—a breathtaking voyage that transcends boundaries and invites listeners to join a bold new musical adventure.

“Chasing Shadows” by Anoushka Shankar takes on new life in this arrangement by Vince Norman, blending the classical Indian call-and-response technique known as Shawal Jawal with the soulful stretch of a 12-bar minor blues. Guitarist Jonathan Epley and Kathak artist Sarah Morelli step to the fore, each bringing their own expressive flair—Epley’s improvisations ripple with blues inflection, while Morelli’s rhythmic footwork and gestures echo a centuries-old storytelling tradition. The result is a vibrant conversation of East and West, melody and movement, tracing a line of shadows that dance in unison across cultural borders. This meeting of genres, rhythms, and personalities celebrates the endless possibilities of musical fusion.

Experience a fresh take on Mychael Danna’s evocative Lullaby from Life of Pi—reimagined here in Tamil with the poetic beauty of Irayimman Thampi’s famous Malayalam lullaby, “Omanathinkal Kidavo.” Our arrangement gently weaves a light 7/4 bossa feel on guitar and bass to cradle Sarah’s entrancing vocals. The rhythmic lilt adds both motion and warmth, complementing the lullaby’s serene melody and lyrical depth. This fusion of languages and sounds pays tribute to the original’s tender spirit while offering a unique cross-cultural twist. We hope you’ll find comfort and calm in this soothing new interpretation.

Juan Tizol’s classic jazz standard “Caravan” embarks on a bold new journey in this collaboration between Amy Shook and Nabin Shrestha. Anchored by a 7.5-beat rhythmic framework—known in Hindustani music as Pancham Sawari (a 15-beat cycle)—the piece showcases each musician’s improvisational prowess in separate spotlight sections. Their interlocking lines and sudden bursts of Tihai (the thrice-repeated rhythmic cadence) infuse the arrangement with authentic Indian classical flair, while maintaining the adventurous spirit of the original. In this meeting of musical worlds, driving syncopation merges with lyrical exploration, offering a vibrant reimagining of Tizol’s timeless composition.