
VAS, the Latin word for vessel, describes how Persian born vocalist Azam Ali and American born percussionist Greg Ellis approach, or more precisely, receive their music. It is indeed accurate to say their music completes them. Their musical style is best described as ‘alternative world,’ a term the duo defines as music that transcends cultural and geographic boundaries. Greg Ellis and Azam Ali met at a Master Musicians of Jajouka concert at UCLA in 1995, and at an impromptu gathering afterward, they heard each other perform for the first time. There was instant recognition of a shared vision, and they began creating music together the very next day. Vas had been born. Within a year they signed to the Narada label and went on to release five critically-acclaimed albums – three as Vas, and two solo projects.