Hailed as “A fiery alto saxophonist and prolific composer” by the Star Tribune (Minneapolis), Aakash Mittal creates music at the intersection of improvisation, composition, sonified movement, and noise. Mittal’s creative process explores these universal designs while being rooted in both South Asian and American musical traditions. His latest album Nocturne was described as “…a beautiful and challenging record” by the Denver Post.
As a composer Aakash Mittal has written extensively for a variety of ensembles and mediums composing over one hundred new works. His commissions include, Samay Raga for Wind Ensemble (2019) for Lawrence University and a consortium of eleven international wind symphonies, the found-sound piece Ghosts (2017) for BOMB Magazine, and a work for solo violin titled The Other Shore for violinist Mariefaith Lane through the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music (2022). The Playground ensemble has commissioned a number of works including Urban Raga (2011), Transitions (2011), and Questions of Identity (2012). American University Creative Ensemble commissioned the Jazz ensemble work Pooja, in 2013. As a leader, Mittal has self-released five recordings, Possible Beginnings, Videsh, Thumbs Up EP, Ocean and Nocturne to rave reviews. Mittal has published essays, interviews and performance reviews in NewMusicBox, BOMB Magazine, and New York Music Daily.
Aakash Mittal has performed with such notable ensembles as William Parker’s Little Huey’s Pocket Watch, the Milford Graves Trio, Du Yun’s Ok Miss, Amir Elsaffar’s Rivers of Sound, and the Brooklyn Raga Massive. As a leader Mittal has performed nationally at such venues as Lincoln Center (New York City), The Dakota (Minneapolis), The Cultural Center of Chicago, The American Jazz Museum (Kansas City) and Dazzle Jazz Club (Denver). Internationally, Aakash Mittal led a quartet at the Congo Square Jazz Festival in Kolkata, India.
Aakash Mittal’s awards and honors include the Chamber Music America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music (2012), the Herb Albert/ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award (2013) and the American Institute of Indian Studies Creative and Performing Arts Fellowship (2013). Aakash Mittal is a 2022 Gabriella Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music Fellow.
