Improvised extracts from our first encounter in July 2021.
Portico Gallery, South London.
This group is a culmination of four musicians each active in some of the most prominent musical forces around today including Sting, Van Morrison, Anoushka Shankar, Wild Flower, Ill Considered, Collocutor, Akram Khan, Dele Sosimi, Sarathy Korwar, Joy Crookes and more.
On woodwinds, Idris Rahman and Tamar Osborn weave together the melodic fabric of this music. Having already released the album “Conversations” together in duo - described by Max Reinhardt from the BBC’s Late Junction as “a revelation” - their lyrical approach gracefully compliments one another, whether they play in unison or counterpoint.
Jihad Darwish oscillates between the sitar, double bass and electric bass, providing a bridge from melodic and harmonic worlds down to earthy, pulsating yet sensitive grooves which Yusuf Ahmed ties together on the drums and various hybrid percussion instruments.
The formation of this band means that performances can be entirely acoustic or amplified. This was a conscious decision made at conception.
Idris Rahman (Anoushka Shankar, Wild Flower, Ill Considered):
Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Flute
Tamar Osborn (Collocutor, Akram Khan, Dele Sosimi, Sarathy Korwar):
Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone, Flute
Jihad Darwish (Sting, Van Morrison, Anderson Paak, Imroel-Quays):
Sitar, Double Bass, Electric Bass
Yusuf Ahmed (Joy Crookes, Etc Etc, Anoushka Lucas, Bukky Leo & Black Egypt):
Drums, Percussion
1. Improvisation I 05:37
2. Improvisation II 06:57
3. Improvisation III 04:27
4. Improvisation IV 07:32
Idris Rahman - Tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
Tamar Osborn - Baritone saxophone, clarinet, flute
Jihad Darwish - Double bass, electric bass
Yusuf Ahmed - Drums, percussion
Recorded by Yusuf Ahmed
Mixed and Mastered by Idris Rahman
