Faris Ishaq + BEJE

The nay master from Bethlehem guests with the British European Jazz Ensemble led by David Mowat in an electrifying fusion of contemporary jazz with the music of the nay, the ancient flute whose history goes back 4,500 years to ancient Egypt and Sumeria…

Faris Ishaq and BEJE are currently recording an album and this gig will follow five days in the studio together. Faris is also promoting his new solo album, Jasad.

Mostly self-taught as a musician and composer, Faris won a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston, the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world, where he was named ‘best student’ for his innovative work blending Arabic music with jazz. He has performed at both the London and Monterey Jazz Festivals, and has collaborated with the multi-Grammy-winning jazz bassist John Patitucci.

Of BEJE, UK Jazz News recently said: ‘Music can be a form of prayer. It can console, witness, and connect when the world feels fractured. For BEJE, this is more than a philosophy, it is the essence of the music they make ... music shaped by reflection, solidarity, and lived experience.’