“Sometimes it takes you a long time to sound like yourself.” — Miles Davis

Jazz as a Portal to Self-Knowledge is an immersive Olio and performance exploring jazz as a practice of becoming oneself.

Ever wonder how bands improvise on the spot? Or come up with a whole concert after barely rehearsing together? Join us for a special Olio with the fusion band, Arkinetics, as they open up their creative process and invite us into their world to see how improvisational jazz and Indian rhythmic traditions come together in real time.

You’ll watch the band start from nothing, try ideas, follow instincts, talk through decisions, and shape a piece of music on the spot. There will be space for questions, conversation, and even some audience participation around rhythm and listening.

Our bar will be open and there will be time to connect and chat about all the new things we have learned. We'll cap off the evening with a live concert—where the ideas explored earlier are brought fully to life.

Part open rehearsal, part conversation, part performance, this evening is for anyone curious about creativity, collaboration, and how something meaningful gets made in the moment. No music background required—in fact, the less pre-conceived notions, the better!

--

Drawing from improvisational jazz, classical Indian ragas, and collective experimentation, fusion band, Arkinetics, invite participants into the creative process as a living inquiry:

How do we listen for what’s true?
How do we shape it?
And how do we offer it to others?

Rather than focusing on technique alone, this Olio treats jazz as an attitude—a way of relating to uncertainty, individuality, collaboration, and expression. Through live demonstration, guided reflection, and participatory rhythm work, we’ll explore how personal expression becomes universal when it is honestly shared.

Concepts We’ll Explore

Jazz as a Path of Self-Discovery
The history of jazz is one of absorption—blending global traditions into a living, evolving form. Here, jazz is approached less as a genre and more as a lifelong commitment to self-inquiry: an ongoing process of discovering one’s voice and communicating it clearly.

Composition as a Musical Universe
A composition is more than notes on a page—it’s the physics of a musical world. Each piece has its own laws, gravity, and possibilities. Through rehearsal and intuition, musicians explore what belongs within that universe—and what doesn’t.

Creative Process: Inspiration → Refinement → Release
We’ll trace creativity in real time:
how inspiration emerges from the unknown,
how it’s shaped through practice and discernment,
and how it’s ultimately released into the world to be received by others.

What to expect:

Opening & Context
• Introduction to the themes and intention of the gathering

Short lecture
• Key ideas, historical moments, and listening examples

Live Demonstration & Exploration
• A melody emerges: inspiration → notation → refinement
• Rhythmic exploration: groove, counter-rhythms, and interlocking patterns
• Audience participation through clapping and embodied listening
• Watch the band rehearse and shape material in real time

Q + A / Open Dialogue (10 mins)

Break (20 mins)

Performance Set
• A short concert by Arkinetics, bringing the concepts into full expression
---

About the Band: Arkinetics

Arkinetics blend improvisational jazz with classical Indian rhythmic and melodic traditions, creating music that is exploratory, grounded, and deeply collaborative.

Featuring:

Alexis Marcelo — Keys
Anders Nilsson— Guitar
Gervis Myles — Bass
Roshni Samlal — Tabla
Dan Kurfirst — Drums, Compositions

Jazz as Portal to Self Knowledge

Jazz as Portal to Self Knowledge