Meet the musicians
Four distinctive musical voices come together, bringing jazz into conversation with Scandinavian folk, Middle Eastern influences and open improvisation. Expect expressive melodies, rich atmosphere and the kind of spontaneous interplay that can only happen when exceptional musicians meet in a small, close-up setting.
Emilia Mårtensson — vocals
Swedish-born vocalist and composer Emilia Mårtensson is known for her remarkably expressive voice and deeply personal storytelling. A Parliamentary Jazz Award winner, she moves effortlessly between jazz, Scandinavian folk, art-pop and improvised music, creating performances that feel intimate, atmospheric and emotionally direct.
Alon Yavnai — piano
Grammy-winning pianist and composer Alon Yavnai brings extraordinary musical range to the piano. His career has taken him around the world and into collaborations with artists including Paquito D’Rivera, Yo-Yo Ma, Freddie Hubbard and Nancy Wilson. His playing combines lyrical sensitivity, rhythmic imagination and influences drawn from jazz, Latin American music and the wider world.
Raed El Khazen — guitar
Lebanese guitarist, composer and producer Raed El Khazen developed his musical voice between Beirut, Boston and New York. His sound crosses jazz, blues, funk, rock and Middle Eastern musical traditions. Alongside performing his own music, he has helped shape the work of a new generation of independent musicians from the Arab world.
Žiga Smrdel — percussion
Žiga Smrdel is one of the most versatile Slovenian drummers of his generation. Active across contemporary jazz, popular music and experimental projects, he performs with groups including Mind Tree and the Smrdel Brothers Collective and has collaborated with a wide range of leading Slovenian artists. His playing can be subtle and spacious one moment, driving and explosive the next—always responding closely to the music around him.
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