The Grog Shop and the CMA Present: Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, and Shahzad Ismaily: Love in Exile

The Grog Shop has partnered with the Cleveland Museum of Art to present Love in Exile, the trio of Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, and Shahzad Ismaily—three of the most innovative composers and music-makers of today. Together, they create lush, haunting soundscapes of meditation and yearning, weaving bass, piano, and vocals into a breathtakingly unified sound. Aftab describes the project as being “about self-exile, and the search for freedom and identity, and finding it through love and music.”

Individually, the artists’ accolades are substantial: vocalist Arooj Aftab, the first Pakistani to win a Grammy Award, wows audiences worldwide with her mesmerizing live shows and otherworldly voice; MacArthur Fellow and Grammy nominee Vijay Iyer is one of today’s most influential pianists; and multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily’s sensitivity and technical acumen have made him a legend among musicians such as the late Lou Reed, for whom he was a session player. Each artist in the trio uses their distinct backgrounds and vast histories of collaboration as a starting point, forging a singular voice.

As Love in Exile, the three musicians bring a one-of-a-kind performance—defined by a sense of timeless beauty and sudden surprise—to Cleveland for the first time.

Tickets are $45–$62 and must be purchased through the Grog Shop’s website.