Vijay talks extensively about 9/11 and its aftermath and the birth of the emotionally charged album In What Language? The idea for the album came in the spring of 2001. Vijay collaborated with hip-hop singer and poet Mike Ladd on this album.
Ben Ratliff of The New York Times writes:
"With a seven-piece band playing odd-meter funk, lulling ambient chords, blots of rhythm under Indian-accented raps, it's that elusive thing, underground political music that sounds good. And though its points of origin are far from the mainstream of either hip-hop or jazz, let's count it as a breakthrough hip-hop-jazz fusion. Because if we do, it's one of the smartest I've heard, and one of the few that really works."
A central question that runs like a red skein throughout the album is this commonality of experience shared by various ethnic communities. What is the common experience that binds all these groups together? The intersection and interaction of various ethnic communities in airports presents an interesting study of this commonality of experience observes Vijay. Airports, says Vijay, are not neutral places. Being in an airport is a heightened and ritualized experience and a modern airport is a combination of a mall and a church he points out. Listen to the interview to find out more.
In 2004 Vijay signed a multi-album deal with Savoy Jazz, who released his album Reimagining in May 2005.
Earlier this year Vijay and his long time collaborator Rudresh Mahanthappa released their first commercial album Raw Materials on Savoy Jazz.
Vijay lives with his family in New York.
Vijay Iyer Jazz New York Podcast Indian Podcast
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