Ahmed

The name says it all: This supergroup is dedicated to the music of New York bassist and oud player Ahmed Abdul-Malik—an early pioneer who bridged the gap between jazz and Arab and East African influences. Drawing on his ideas, the quartet creates, in [Ahmed]’s own words, “music with a heavy rhythm.” And indeed: [Ahmed]’s pieces thrive on driving repetition, pounding grooves, and collective improvisation. The historical material serves less as a template than as a starting point: motifs are broken down, reassembled, and developed in the moment. The result is music that feels both archaeological and highly contemporary. The magazine *The Wire* praised [Ahmed] as “one of the most progressive jazz bands in the world.” And from our own experience, we can attest: This is true free jazz—physical, demanding, and surprisingly danceable.