In this performance, trombonist and composer Kalia Vandever will perform selections from their latest album Mana, released in June on International Anthem. The heart of Mana sees Vandever shedding new light onto their personal connection to Hawaiian mythology, ancestry and how it relates to their musical expression — a meeting of their familial and professional life that represents a sort of closing of a circle. Mana, which in Hawaiian means “foundational, supernatural, or divine power and strength,” reveals more of their voice and words, drawing from yearning, loss, and bewilderment.

Kalia Vandever (they/them) is a trombonist and composer living in New York. Praised by AllMusic as “a master musician and composer” and “a singular talent,” Vandever’s approach to the trombone is distinctive, defined by their sonorous tone and lyrical voicing. They lean into the challenges of the instrument and allow patience and melody to guide their process.

“Each breath emerging from their instrument evokes a lifetime’s journey.”

— the Wire

“Sculpts their trombone’s golden tones into dazzling compositions.”

— Pitchfork

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