Spellbinding vocals and mesmerizing music hypnotize in ‘Love In Exile’

20 Sep 2023

From left, Shahzad Ismaily, a bald brown man with white sideburns, round sunglasses, and a long white peacoat over a dark shirt; Vijay Iyer, a young brown man with medium length dark brown hair in a fade on the sides, wearing a black and silver brocade blazer over a black button down shirt, and Arooj Aftab, a young brown woman with dark brown hair pulled into a messy updo, wearing a black jacket with fluffy white sleeves. They stand in front of a dark grey background. — The trio Love In Exile includes (from left) Shahzad Ismaily, Vijay Iyer, and Arooj Aftab. Photo courtesy of Ebru Yildiz.

Three world-class musicians forge a singular voice in a timeless performance uniting jazz, world music, and experimentation. Featuring spellbinding Grammy-winning vocalist Aroof Aftab; MacArthur "genius" pianist Vijay Iyer; and multi-instrumentalist, composer, and bassist Shahzad Ismaily, “Love In Exile” comes to the Moss Arts Center Saturday, Oct. 7, at 7:30 p.m.

With a shared focus on collective real-time creation, the trio weaves the bass, piano, and vocals into a breathtakingly unified sound. Both ancient and modern, the trio creates an environment of suspended tones, spinning a hypnotic cocoon of sound. Aftab’s warm, immersive voice is rich and haunting, imparting a state of relaxation. This unforgettable evening will sweep the audience up in a world of sound.

Individually, the musicians’ accolades are substantial — vocalist Aftab, the first Pakistani to win a Grammy, wows audiences worldwide with her mesmerizing live shows; Iyer is a Grammy nominee and one of today’s most influential pianists; and Ismaily’s sensitivity and technical acumen has made him a legend among musicians like the late Lou Reed, for whom he was a session player. Together, their talents blend to create a singular, gorgeous sound.

Related engagement events

As part of the APIDA+ Center’s “Learning Lunch” series, the “Love in Exile” artists will meet with Virginia Tech students to share their personal and professional journeys.

Tickets

Tickets for the performance are $20-$55 for general public and $10 for students and youth 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased online; at the Moss Arts Center's box office, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; or by calling 540-231-5300 during box office hours.

Venue and parking information

The performance will be held in the center’s Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre, located within the Street and Davis Performance Hall at 190 Alumni Mall. Convenient parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street and in downtown Blacksburg. Find more parking details online.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Jamie Wiggert at least 10 days prior to the event at 540-231-5300 or email wiggertj@vt.edu during regular business hours.