[AT-luhs MAH-yor] 

Progressive Jazz meets world music

“The tune [Ya Ali] draws on multiple music traditions, using tools found in Pakistani ghazal, Colombian, Afro- Cuban and progressive jazz. It also follows their first collaborative single, “Nazuk,” a new take on a song by Ustad Pervez Mehdi, Ali Pervez Mehdi’s father.” ” - Matt Micucci

JAZZIZ Magazine

“"You've never heard anything like this before"” ” - Michael Toland - review of Riptide

The Austin Chronicle

“combines the fire and excitement of eastern musical culture with probing, Coltrane-like solos from Joshua Thomson on sax.”” - John Adcock - review of Riptide

The Jazz Journal

Atlas Maior perform "Cumbia Raposa" from the album RIPTIDE for Electric Lady Bird's Summer Series (Austin, TX)

Mundo Tropidelico performance by Atlas Maior at Hotel Vegas

“Nazuk” is a composition that takes its lyrics from the 19th-century Punjabi Sufi poet Khawaja Farid of the Indian subcontinent. Farid, a prolific scholar and writer within multiple languages, belonged to the Chishti-Nizami Sufi order. The creation of “Nazuk” is informed by Ali Pervez Mehdi’s father, famous ghazal singer Ustad Pervez Mehdi, and the classical Sufi music and poetry form known as Kafi. “Nazuk” is sung in the language of Saraiki.

Atlas Maior and Ali Pervez Mehdi  created 2 singles as a result of their collaboration- Nazuk and  Ya Ali , along with releases Ya Ali - Felix 3AM Remix, & Jah Ali - Doctor Phono Remix.

An interview for KLRU, an Austin PBS affiliate.  Decibel's Joe Rocha spent some time with the group:  "Atlas Maior's music will make you feel like you're in a far out place, their sound mixes jazz, Latin, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern music. The Austin grown group is also one of the city's lasting bands, having celebrated their 8th "Atlas Maior Day" on March 27."

Calendar / Live Shows

Atlas Maior

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Monks Jazz Club, 501 Pedernales Street, Austin, TX

Monks Jazz Club 501 Pedernales StreetAustin, TX, 78702United States (map) Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for Atlas Maior

8pm In-Person Tickets at tickets.monksjazz.com/shows/2130/?date=2024-01-19

Livestream Tickets livestream.monksjazz.com/shows/2176/?date=2024-01-19

Joshua Thomson - Alto Saxophone

Joshua Peters - Oud

Josh Flowers - Upright Bass

Gray Parsons - Drums

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 6 studio albums, most recently new album "Hadal" (released 2/17/23), their follow up to "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.

"Often reminiscent of compositions of Kronos Quartet, or Le Trio Joubran, Riptide offers a hypnotic truly international experience." - Jazz Journal U.K.

"Atlas Maior's alloy of Arabic melodies, jazz harmonies, and rhythmic eclecticism beats the noise of other so-called world fusion acts." - Austin Chronicle

"If surf rock had existed on Cyprus in the 1920s, it might sound like (Atlas Maior song) Iddaa!!, the sax sailing over tight, catchy, minor-key bass riffage." - New York Music Daily

Please Note: This is a live-taping, so we'll be enforcing a whisper-policy! Cold bottles of still and sparkling water will be available for purchase, but this event is BYOB. Ice will be available if needed, wine keys and 9oz cups provided! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm.