ISABELLE COURROY, SHADI FATHI & WASSIM HALAL

Nomads of Levant

Shadi Fathi : setar, tar
Isabelle Courroy : flûtes kaval
Wassim Halal : percussion

Rich musical histories stem from musical lines. For a quarter of a century, the Turkish kaval flute has opened up a vast world of sounds for Isabelle Courroy – including Eastern Europe, the Balkans and Anatolia. When she met the musician Shadi Fathi (on the setar from the lute family), this world expanded to include the sounds of Iran, for Shadi has been immersed in the tradition of Persian music from a very young age.  Nomadic in spirit, this exceptional duo formed four years ago, is now accompanied by the percussionist Wassim Halal, who further fleshes out the group’s ample range. Haunting rhythmic cycles are formed from coloured and magical motifs. Strings, wind and percussion weave together vital and elegant compositions. The art of improvisation is celebrated, and accommodates with style East and West.