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The Biophilia Records Festival Returns in Time for Earth Day, with Music and a Message

Desmond White
/
courtesy of the artist
Pianist and composer Fabian Almazan, founder and director of Biophilia Records.

Biophilia Records, the Harlem-based label founded by Cuban pianist Fabian Almazan, has always placed environmental concerns at the heart of its agenda.

Among other things, this means that its releases come in digital form, with album art, liner notes and credits folded into something called the Biopholio, a trademarked package inspired by the art of origami, and printed using plant-based inks.

But of course, it’s much more than the packaging. “Our artists collaborate with organizations that specialize in conservation, sustainability and outreach initiatives,” reads a mission statement on the label website. The artists on the label — including Endless Field, vocalist Rajna Swaminathan and bassist Linda May Han Oh — uphold these convictions with independent action.

“Not to sound overly ambitious, but I really do want to make the world a better place,” Almazan told The Checkout one year ago. He was speaking in advance of the inaugural Biophilia Records Festival, presented as a series of online workshops and concerts. The second edition of the fest kicks off on Thursday, Earth Day, with performances by Almazon, singer Sara Serpa and the four-piece band known as Nortonk. The festival is pay-what-you-wish, presented on Biophilia's YouTube channel to registered viewers.

Register here for the Biophilia Records Festival, and visit the label website for more information. Here is a full schedule of events. (All times are EDT unless specified.)

Thursday, April 22
7:30 p.m. — Fabian Almazan, Nortonk, Sara Serpa

Friday, April 23
7:30 p.m. — María Grand

Saturday, April 24
7:30 p.m. Melbourne time (5:30 a.m. EDT) — Gian Slater

Friday, April 30
Time TBD — Lara Bello, Desmond White

Friday, May 7
Time TBD — The Awakening Orchestra

Tuesday, May 11
Time TBD — Endless Field

Saturday, May 15
Time TBD — Bryan & Aardvarks

Sunday, May 16
Time TBD — Rajna Swaminathan, Linda May Han Oh, Kim Anderson

A veteran jazz critic and award-winning author, and a regular contributor to NPR Music.