Maati
Kalpana Patowary and Assamese pianist-composer Ron Cha (Ronojit Chaliha) have collaborated on his jazz-folk fusion project Maati, bringing rich Assamese folk into a global jazz context.
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Notable Collaborations“Lost”
A standout single from Maati, featuring Kalpana’s evocative Assamese folk vocals alongside Ron Cha’s piano, with contributions from Nadhaswaram (Mylai Karthikeyan), bass (Alexander Tóth), and jazz drums (Ferenc Nemeth)
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“Bihu Blues”
A vibrant reinterpretation of the traditional Bihu melody, again spotlighting Kalpana’s vocals with Ron Cha’s arrangements, supported by saxophone from Jacques Schwarz‑Bart, bass, and drums.
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“Awakening”
Another folk‑jazz fusion track from Maati, featuring Kalpana and Ron Cha in a harmonious blend .
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Project Highlights: Maati EP (2022)
Seamless fusion: The EP integrates Assamese folk melodies with jazz improvisation and international jazz musicians, creating an authentic and organic hybrid
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Cultural immersion: Ron Cha described the project as a tribute to his roots during the pandemic, with Kalpana contributing deep folk knowledge.
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Critical praise: Rolling Stone India praised Maati for letting “traditional roots… coexist” with jazz, noting the “beautiful rendered” vocals by Kalpana and Biren Deuri.
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Why It Matters
This collaboration marks a rare jazz–folk fusion spotlighting Assam's musical heritage.
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Kalpana’s folk authenticity and Ron Cha’s jazz sensitivity complement each other, offering global audiences a fresh take on regional music.
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The project bridges cultural, geographic, and generational gaps, with musicians from Europe (Ferenc Nemeth, Lionel Loueke, Jacques Schwarz‑Bart), the USA, Chennai, and Assam joining forces.
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