John Kameel Farah

At a concert by John Kameel Farah, one is hurled through the centuries and catapulted back and forth between continents: The Canadian, born in 1983, belongs to a generation of pianists who do not feel at home between their love of Bach and electronic frickel sounds, improvisation and notated music, but who virtually blossom in this tension. The son of Palestinian parents studied composition at the Toronto Conservatory, took private lessons with Terry Riley in California and at the Arabic Music Retreat in Hartford. All these influences can be heard. In the midst of piano, organ, harpsichord, synthesizers and electronic devices, he sits like a magician during his impressive solo shows, masterfully combining the sounds wafting in from the most diverse stylistic worlds, superimposing them on and among each other, setting them in vibration. Thus, a motif originating from the baroque period can merge into an oriental-like arabesque, while drone-like layers of sound lie beneath and suddenly a breakbeat kicks in, transforming the piece into a world-music dance track that finally ends as a minimalist meditation. He himself calls his "peculiar approach" "maximalist" - or, to put it even better, "Baroque-Mid-Eastern-Cyberpunk". Those who experienced his two concerts at Enjoy Jazz a few years ago will definitely not want to miss John Kameel Farah's latest magical experimental trip.