Headfirst Editor's Pick
"Faris Ishaq is the undisputed modern master of the ancient sounds of the nay reed flute. The global jazz collaborator returns to Bristol with his new solo endeavour, marrying truly dizzying breathwork with percussive frame drum pulse. An unmissable Palestinian musical expo FFO: Yusef Lateef, Paul Horn, ECM, Nai Barghouti."
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A gig on Friday 1st May. The event starts at 20:00.
Faris is a unique phenomenon
“A Walking Musical Genius" - Max Reinhard, former BBC Radio 3
"When the Nay Flute moves towards the authentic self, The soul gradually moves towards the unknown. There is such brilliance in this esteemed work" - Le Trio Joubran, Samir Joubran
“Fantastic job. You bring a whole different way of improvising as a result of the immense presence of the ancient nay. This project demonstrates the incredible musical era of exchange we are presently living through which anything can happen.... No more rules!! And John Coltrane front and center...John would’ve loved it.” - Dave Liebman, legendary jazz saxophonist
Faris will be coming to the UK for the release tour of his upcoming solo project JASAD to be released in June 2026. The tour includes pre-release concerts at Conway Hall (London) and Crucible Theatre (Sheffield), followed by an international release tour with performances at Arter, Istanbul, and a concluding concert at the London Jazz Festival.
Reflecting on an increasingly digitized world, JASAD —Arabic for Body— draws from the breath-centred essence of the Nay (ca. 5000 B.C.) to create a distinctive solo setup, in which he performs simultaneously on the Nay and a leg-mounted frame drum. Drawing from his global jazz background, he fuses original Tashbib melodies—a percussive, improvisational Nay style—with the improvisational language of jazz. Through a rich palette of extended Nay techniques—percussive sounds, multi-phonics, and distinctive Nay effects—he creates acoustic illusions that evoke the feel of electronic or looped textures, while remaining fully acoustic.
"At its heart, this project rekindles the quiet dialogue between breath, body, and the living landscape around us. While instant music production, Auto-Tune and AI-generated sounds are increasingly normalized, Jasad celebrates the raw connection between body and instrument as a technology of innovation". Conway Hall
Faris honours the Palestinian deep roots in the land of Palestine, defying the pressures from the Occupiers to deracinate a people. Despite many being forced into the diaspora of exile, here is a musical flowering that heralds a future vibrant and undefeated culture.
There are two sets. Enjoy the products on sale from the Palestine Museum in the interval and our pop-up bar. It is co-curated by Bigbromopromo the Palestine Museum and Cultural Centre in Bristol and Diaspora Festival.
Entry requirements: no age restrictions
“A Walking Musical Genius" - Max Reinhard, former BBC Radio 3
"When the Nay Flute moves towards the authentic self, The soul gradually moves towards the unknown. There is such brilliance in this esteemed work" - Le Trio Joubran, Samir Joubran
“Fantastic job. You bring a whole different way of improvising as a result of the immense presence of the ancient nay. This project demonstrates the incredible musical era of exchange we are presently living through which anything can happen.... No more rules!! And John Coltrane front and center...John would’ve loved it.” - Dave Liebman, legendary jazz saxophonist
Faris will be coming to the UK for the release tour of his upcoming solo project JASAD to be released in June 2026. The tour includes pre-release concerts at Conway Hall (London) and Crucible Theatre (Sheffield), followed by an international release tour with performances at Arter, Istanbul, and a concluding concert at the London Jazz Festival.
Reflecting on an increasingly digitized world, JASAD —Arabic for Body— draws from the breath-centred essence of the Nay (ca. 5000 B.C.) to create a distinctive solo setup, in which he performs simultaneously on the Nay and a leg-mounted frame drum. Drawing from his global jazz background, he fuses original Tashbib melodies—a percussive, improvisational Nay style—with the improvisational language of jazz. Through a rich palette of extended Nay techniques—percussive sounds, multi-phonics, and distinctive Nay effects—he creates acoustic illusions that evoke the feel of electronic or looped textures, while remaining fully acoustic.
"At its heart, this project rekindles the quiet dialogue between breath, body, and the living landscape around us. While instant music production, Auto-Tune and AI-generated sounds are increasingly normalized, Jasad celebrates the raw connection between body and instrument as a technology of innovation". Conway Hall
Faris honours the Palestinian deep roots in the land of Palestine, defying the pressures from the Occupiers to deracinate a people. Despite many being forced into the diaspora of exile, here is a musical flowering that heralds a future vibrant and undefeated culture.
There are two sets. Enjoy the products on sale from the Palestine Museum in the interval and our pop-up bar. It is co-curated by Bigbromopromo the Palestine Museum and Cultural Centre in Bristol and Diaspora Festival.
Entry requirements: no age restrictions
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