Julia Úlehla – vocals & compositions
Aram Bajakian – guitar

Dálava, the genre-defying ensemble led by vocalist Julia Úlehla (Grotowski Workcenter, Darius Jones) with guitarist Aram Bajakian (Lou Reed, John Zorn, Diana Krall), present music from Understories (Pi Recordings), their deeply evocative new album that explores uncharted territories of sound. “Understories exudes the same spirit of freedom as [Pi Recordings’] releases by Steve Lehman, Henry Threadgill, and Tyshawn Sorey, which are united by refusing the limits of genre and national boundaries” (Artsfuse). Seamlessly weaving animist Slavic folk songs with an experimental, improvisational approach, Understories takes the listener on a journey through captivating, inspirited sonic worlds. “Úlehla’s astonishing voice freely inhabits these ancient songs and utterly transforms them, whether they become harrowing tone poems or modern folk tunes” (The Wire). “The album is both haunting and haunted. Úlehla shapes and narrates each song with such a ghostly intensity that you may find yourself remembering a history you never learned…Truly, Understories is a compelling reminder that the voice is an instrument, capable of just as much metamorphosis and mimicry as anything crafted by hands….The entire album is a feast of sumptuous tone, hypnotic rhythms, and keening emotion…This is a gorgeous, riveting album.” (Spinal Tapdance). Dálava’s concert at the Jazz Gallery on March 25th will be the duo’s first appearance in New York since 2019.