Rafiq Bhatia made waves in 2018 as a daring hybrid producer with his album ‘Breaking English,’ which finds a visceral common ground between ecstatic avant-jazz, mournful soul, tangled strings and building-shaking electronics. His new EP Standards Vol. 1, released today, transforms cornerstone works by Duke Ellington, Ornette Coleman and more into immersive, otherworldly realms of sound that are uniquely Rafiq Bhatia. Stream the new EP below ahead of his performance at Rewire 2020.
Working with a cast of traditional jazz’s most beloved musicians including the three-time GRAMMY-winning vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant, Bhatia implements dreamlike and sometimes volatile electronic techniques to recast classic repertoire as a window into the darkness underlying ordinary American life. Eschewing nostalgia or emulation, Standards Vol. 1 is a deeply personal and decidedly un-standard record that will have you thinking about the possibilities of jazz in an entirely new way. We’re very excited for Rafiq Bhatia to perform at Rewire 2020. Tickets available here.
Stream ‘Standards Vol. 1’ below: