Ustad Noor Bakhsh Ensemble

Encounter of cultures: Ustad Noor Bakhsh

On Friday, May 31, an extraordinary event awaits us when Pakistani-born Ustad Noor Bakhsh with ensemble in the MPS studio.

Ustad Noor Bakhsh from Balochistan, is a master of Balochi Benju (a zither with keys), which he has been playing since childhood. Noor Bakhsh is known as a legendary instrumentalist on the Makran coast, but has only gained greater attention through his recent recordings and videos. Noor Bakhsh plays an electric Benju, which he plays with an old pickup and a small Phillips amplifier. He carries on the legacy of his teachers and inspirations like Bilawal Belgium and Misri Khan Jamali but his own music is influenced by various traditions and musical forms far beyond Balochistan. His virtuoso playing is deeply rooted in the musical forms of the Lollipop rooted in the history of South Asia and is characterized by his knowledge of Raags which he also performs in his own experimental style.

His repertoire includes Persian and Kurdish melodies, which were probably played in his country even before the modern borders between Iran and Pakistan were established and Balochistan was divided. On one of his last recordings, he even played an Arabic Ghazal on his Benju. It is not surprising that Noor Baksh also some Bollywood songs plays. In addition to his varied repertoire, he also has some original compositions, including one inspired by birdsong. His debut album „Jingul“ was released digitally in September 2022 and appeared on vinyl in 2023 via the British label Hive Mind Records.

For listeners who are familiar with the music of the Lollipop are not familiar with Noor Bakshs electric Benju tone and its melodic embellishments are reminiscent of the style of Ali Farka Toure and polyrhythmic groovy innovation and improvisation that is very similar to the music of West and East Africa. This is not surprising given the well-documented migratory and seafaring links between Balochistan and Africa across the Indian Ocean world. It is this world that his music brings back to life.

We are delighted to be able to continue an old tradition in the MPS studio with this concert. The well-known journalist, festival organizer and Hans-Georg Brunner-Schwer the most important producer at MPS - Joachim-Ernst Berendt was the one who came up with the series „Jazz meets the World“, for the first time brought Asian, African or South American musicians into the country. SABA Studio (MPS from 1968) and brought them together with Western jazz musicians. We remember, for example Tony Scott with the Indonesian Allstars or Irene Schweizer with the Indian Trio. For our evening, however, the Pakistani musicians keep to themselves.

Friday May 31, 2024

Members, students, people with disabilities: 20 euros
Regular: 25 Euro

MPS-STUDIO
Richthofenstrasse 1/1
78048 VS-Villingen

ATTENTION: ABSOLUTE PARKING BAN IN THE COURTYARD! BICYCLES EXCLUDED.

Admission: 20:00
Start: 21:00