The soaring voice of Dhafer Youssef evokes age-old traditions whilst travelling far and wide across the music of today.
From a long line of muezzins in his native Tunisia, the mastering of vocal performance lies deep within his heritage, his music transcends time and place through a series of collaborations that connect across continents and cultures – from European electronica to American jazz and landmark orchestral collaborations – most recently in London with the LSO.
He returns to the Barbican with the music from a brand new Okeh recording, certain to take this extraordinary force of nature into new and fascinating territory.
‘A dynamic spectrum which ranged from the quietest of archetypal folk-touched moments to passages of rock-driven exultation’ (Jazz Journal)
Opening the concert is a set from Ambrose Akinmusire, massively talented both as trumpeter and composer, and one of today’s pivotal jazz innovators.
Alongside a brace of acclaimed Blue Note albums and riveting live performances with the band that opens tonight’s concert, he is a tireless musical explorer, fascinated by new ideas and new collaborations – and appears as a guest artist on Dhafer Youssef’s new recording.
‘Something very special and personal is at work here’ (Downbeat)
Dhafer Youssef (vocal, oud)
Aaron Parks (piano)
Ben Williams (bass)
Justin Faulkner (drums)
Part of EFG London Jazz Festival
