Presented by Sounds from the World
Atlas Maior
Atlas Maior creates original music that combines elements of Progressive Jazz, Middle Eastern, Latin, and Indian music traditions. Band members Joshua Thomson (alto saxophone, flutes), Josh Peters (oud, lavta), create a unique sound that balances intimate moments of sincerity with powerful melodies and incendiary rhythmic passages. The group writes original melodies exploring maqamat (Middle Eastern modal system) and harmonic progressions found in American jazz. Atlas Maior composes with a variety of rhythms & instrumentation including Indian tablas, kanjira, & Chinese hulusi.
As an ensemble, Atlas Maior has released 5 studio albums, most recently RIPTIDE, voted a 2019 Top 100 release by The Austin Chronicle. During 2020-21 the group released 4 singles which featured Coke Studios artist Ali Pervez Mehdi (Nazuk, Ya Ali, & 2 studio remixes). The group has toured nationally & internationally while garnering positive reviews and media placement from Jazziz Magazine, NPR's PRI The World, New York Daily Music, Jazz Journal, Afropop Worldwide, Song Lines, & in 2019 were named City of Austin Cultural Ambassadors. The group has a new album slated for release in 2022.
Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.