Today, the Spotlight shines On award-winning vocalist, composer, ethnomusicology researcher, and educator Kavita Shah.

Kavita’s work sits at the intersection of modern jazz, new creative music, and world traditions. The impetus for her visit today was her 2023 tribute to African legend Cesária Évora, Cape Verdean Blues (2023). We discuss that music as well as her personal experiences as a lifelong New Yorker of Indian origin, her work as an advocate for gender and racial equity in the arts, and more.

(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from Kavita Shah’s album Cape Verdean Blues)

–

Dig Deeper

• Visit Kavita Shah at kavitashahmusic.com
• Purchase Cape Verdean Blues on Qobuz or Bandcamp, and listen on your favorite streaming platform
• Follow Kavita Shah on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter (X), and YouTube
• Check out Folkalist Records at folkalistrecords.com
• Morna: on the trail of traditional music in the Cape Verde islands
• Ori-Gen Live Stream Rebroadcast | A Concert with Kavita Shah
• Permission to Daydream: A Conversation with Gwen Laster and Kavita Shah
• Be sure to peruse this episode’s extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

–

• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.

• Check out Spotlight On’s next live event at The Royal Room in Seattle on Saturday, June 22! More info here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.