For Palestinian musician Nizar Rohana, the oud has been a lifelong companion. Growing up in a musical household, he was immersed in its melodies from an early age, often listening to his father play while his mother accompanied him on percussion. His recent solo album Safa (‘clarity’) has a similarly intimate feel. Its stripped-back sound reflects a desire for sanity in chaotic times.

Nizar Rohana will open this concert with a solo performance, after which he will be joined by his trio featuring Tony Overwater on double bass and Ruven Ruppik on percussion. The solo pieces are informed by the Arabic tradition as well as the Western classical language of, for example, J.S. Bach. The trio reflects influences from jazz and improvised music as well. Since his move to The Netherlands in 2013, Nizar Rohana has developed into an authority of Arabic music with connections to various conservatories and universities.

‘Safa, meaning purity, reveals an oud master reaching new, heights… Safa is an emphatic achievement that affirms Rohana’s individual proficiency even as it clarifies the necessity of art, forged in the crucible of politics, to gesture at something greater.’ – Bandcamp Daily

Nizar Rohana oud, Tony Overwater double bass, Ruven Ruppik percussion