Aman Jagwani - This Place (2021)

Vocals: Anubha Kaul and Ron Cha; Synth/Keys: Jonathan Huber; Guitar: Pritesh Walia; Vocals,Synth Bass, drums: Aman Jagwani
Composer: Aman Jagwani; - Arranger: Aman Jagwani; Vocal Arrangment: Aman Jagwani and Anubha Kaul;
Lyrics: Aman Jagwani
Mix Engineer: Dishaan Gidwani; Mastering Engineer: Ayan De
Photography credit: Keenan Pereira; Album art: Tanisha Parikh

Aman Pankaj Jagwani is a drummer, composer, producer and educator from
Mumbai, India who was awarded the Berklee Achievement Scholarship in 2018 as well as the Armand Zildjian Percussion Achievement Scholarship in 2019. He had studied with prominent educators, Yoron Israel, Billy Kilson, Dave DiCenso, James Murphy, Jason Palmer,
Tia Fuller and Simon Shaheen.

As part of his ongoing artistic involvement with Berklee, where he studies drum-set performance and electronic production and design, Jagwani has been immersing himself in the exploration
of different cultures and facets of life through collaborations with musicians from numerous countries including Brazil, Argentina, France, India, Turkey, Israel, Greece, Italy and the USA, both in the studio and on stage.

Jagwani explains that his works are inspired by the sensations experienced every day that give depth to human life. In this context of empathy, Aman aims for his music to be a positive, global force. this album follows his debut album, 'Essentially Entangled'
that was released in May 2019.

Jagwani has an extensive portfolio of live performance experience both as a bandleader and sideman. He showcased his first album at venues across India, Europe and USA and has been a well-sought-out drummer for artists in the Indian and Boston Jazz scenes.

Since 2013, Jagwari has been associated with V Care Foundation, an Indian NGO that provides care and relief for cancer patients. He plays for and teaches children facing the disease at the Sant Gadge Dharamshala in Mumbai and regularly composes music for the foundation's promotional activities.

He has become proficient in production, audio programming and sound design and his approach is based on connecting with the meaning and purpose of a particular musical piece, enabling it to have a greater emotional appeal. Jagwari is also a teacher of drums , rhythm studies and music technology students. He sees music as a unifying tool and hopes to harness its powers to break barriers and lead to positivity.

Of the album, Jagwari says, "This is my second album. It consists of music that is complex and
sophisticated but still accessible and relatable. The album name, 'This Place' is a pun on the word, 'displace', conveying the idea of how everyone has the power to displace from the mental, physical, emotional or any place they are in to their ideal place or state of mind. Each of the songs also conveys this idea in its own way.

The album was recorded and produced by Jagwani at home in Goa, India during lockdowns. It features lots of soloists and instrumentalists, all of whom recorded remotely. His primary collaborator is vocalist Anubha Kaul form Mumbai who sings on all tracks and also wrote som eof the lyrics.

'This Place' opens the album and features Kaul's rich, sultry vocals in great form. The song is jazz-funk and laced with a touch of soul but really it is unclassifiable and well structured with interesting interactions of the vocals, from under which a trumpet solo emerges from the background. The track uses complex harmonics to add texture and depth and is followed by 'Elastic Slumber' which is full of surprises, from the melodic, off beat opening vocal lines to the full throttle, rich arrangement and the complicated and dynamic percussive additions. Heavy on production and electronica this track includes much based in the now and older traditions. The change of tempo in the central section serves to pull back the beat and introduce yet another area for exploration, including a dynamic trumpet solo. Rhythmic pauses, drives and pull backs make this an engaging and interesting track.

'Palm Tree' is gentler, softer and as laid back as this album gets with looped vocals and a rhythmic pattern which at times rolls forward, then is pulled back a little, creating a gentle rolling effect. The duet vocal lines are effective
and the piano impressive.

'Rain On My Shelter' is about feeling breathless, trapped and finding relief in the rain. It features a beautiful saxophone solo and the sax works impressive motifs in the background under the vocal lines too.

'Glow' is atmospheric, dynamic and heavily produced, which gives parts a slightly sterile feel when you get the sense it is meant to be deeply textured and gritty, whilst 'Now' is explorative both vocally and in terms of arrangement. Kaul's vocals are superb on this track and the arrangement allows her to stretch and imbue tone and melodic beauty, all this topped by the harmonies added underneath. Again, there is that play with the pace in the final third. This track is the best on the album and, not surprisingly, is the choice for a single release which is out now.

The final track 'Breakthrough' brings many elements together from beautiful soaring vocals and intricate arrangements to exquisite harmonies and jazz-infused riffs and segues.

This is a genuinely intriguing album and is full of exploration and a sense of an artist trying to fuse many elements. At times there is a sense of a slight loss of direction with harmonics developing in one idiom and transposing into another but never for long and what began as an vaguely interesting album at the start, winds up one which took several listens to understand and get into but once in, this reviewer stayed quite a while.

The tempo shifts and sophisticated arrangement with layers under layers , hidden and emerging with each listen is key and there is a generosity present which allows each musician to contribute to the whole, yet sparkle in their own right. The lush vocal lines are well placed, allowing the vocalist to absolutely shine. At just 22, Jagwani has produced something which is progressive, pleasurable and he can build on, and point back to with absolute pride.~Reviewed by Sammy Stein