Sax Appeal

It has been said that music is the universal language. It goes beyond borders, and there’s been quite a lot of cross-pollination of cultures within genres over the years.

Take young local saxophonist Aakash Mittal, for example. On his debut album, Possible Beginnings, Mittal tapped into jazz’s history as well as his Eastern Indian roots; many of the songs were inspired by family members. Another musician crossing musical and cultural boundaries is Amir ElSaffar, a trumpeter, santoor player and Iraqi Maqam singer who was born in America to a native Iraqi father and an American mother. ElSaffar, who is classically trained, has worked with famed conductor Daniel Barenboim and jazz luminaries such as Cecil Taylor and Vijay Iyer. In 2006, ElSaffar released Two Rivers, his outstanding debut as a leader in which he, saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa and four other musicians framed Iraqi musical traditions within a jazz setting.

So when the New York-based ElSaffar joins Mittal’s quartet on Saturday, April 25, at Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge, 930 Lincoln Street, it should be a fascinating journey through music and cultures. Shows are at 7 and 9 p.m.; for tickets, $12 to $15, visit www.dazzlejazz.com or call 303-839-5100.

Sat., April 25, 7 & 9 p.m., 2009