The ensemble is co-led by Maâlem Hassan Ben Jaafer, a master musician who carries forward generations of Gnawa tradition, the son of the esteemed Maâlem Abdullah Benjaafar of Fes. Trained in his father’s officially recognized Gnawa school and by master musicians throughout Morocco, Ben Jaafer earned the title of Maâlem (master) as a teenager—an honor bestowed only by consensus of other masters. He performs on vocals and guembri (a three-stringed bass lute) and has collaborated with artists like Randy Weston, and leads the Grammy-nominated group Innov Gnawa.
Co-leader Daniel Freedman, a drummer and composer, brings decades of experience collaborating with artists like David Byrne and Angelique Kidjo, as well as deep knowledge of traditions from Africa and the Middle East.
The ensemble also features Amino Belyamani (Innov Gnawa, Dawn of Midi) and David Lizmi (Innov Gnawa, Bombino) on qraqebs and backing vocals, and Jason Lindner (David Bowie, Now vs Now) on keys and synths.
“the hottest Irish acoustic band on the planet.” IRISH VOICE (USA)
“anybody who listens can’t help but find them contagious.” BILLBOARD (USA)
‘Lúnasa reigns as the new Celtic royalty’ BOSTON HERALD (USA)
The ensemble Alash is a throat singing band from Tuva, Russia, that performs traditional Tuvan music with some non-traditional influences.
“It’s one of the most astonishing sounds a human body can produce.” — Washington Post
“Alash … pretty much knocked everybody’s socks off.” — Pegasus News, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas
“The Tuvans were astonishing in various styles of khöömei (throat singing), from frightening growls to otherworldly overtone whistles … Alash's many songs about ‘fast horses and pretty girls’ were pleasingly punctuated by equine snorts and neighs from their horse-head fiddles. The result came close to magic …”
— Songlines
Solas is lighting up stages across the globe as they celebrate three decades of pushing boundaries and honoring traditions in Irish music. Hailed by The Boston Globe as “the finest Celtic ensemble this country has ever produced,” and by The Wall Street Journal as “an Irish traditional band bearing all the marks of greatness,” Solas continues to captivate audiences with their spellbinding musicianship and genre-defying creativity.
