Cosmic free jazz from the Middle East

This Middle Eastern supergroup first got together to celebrate the music of Egyptian surf guitarist Omar Khorshid, but their remit has expanded somewhat and now they’re fully committed to outer-perimeter explorations in Krautrock-leaning, cosmic free jazz. Or what someone would call: music without limitations.

Featuring some of the most innovative players from Beirut, Cairo and Istanbul, Karkhana met up in Beirut for the first time in 2014, bringing together influences from the three major experimental music scenes of the region and beyond.

Through their live shows, the band’s seven multi-instrumentalists build a transcendental atmosphere full of surprises, developing what could possibly be called free Middle Eastern music.

Elements of shaabi, tarab, sufi and much more are heard in the distinct blend of free jazz and psychedelic music. Karkhana made their debut with a live album and has released 4 other projects among which Carte Blanche with Nadah El Shazly (2019) and studio albums, Nafas (2016) and For Seun Matta (2017).

Umut Çağlar (Turkey) double reeds/bamboo flutes/percussion/violin, Mazen Kerbaj (Lebanon) trumpet/percussion, Sharif Sehnaoui (Lebanon) electirc guitar, Sam Shalabi (Egypt/Canada) oud/electric guitar, Maurice Louca (Egypt) electric organ/synthesizers, Tony Elieh (Lebanon) electric bass, Michael Zerang (USA) drums/percussion