British-Bahraini trumpeter and composer Yazz Ahmed shares a new track, ‘Into The Night’. A standout piece from her forthcoming album, A Paradise In The Hold, (out 28 February via Night Time Stories), the new single is constructed with carefully assembled layers of sound, all hinging on recordings of percussive, joyful hubbub at Yazz’s family home in Bahrain. Deeply personal, it is one of the pieces from the album that wears its Bahraini influence proudly whilst also being a remarkable celebration of female independence.
On her new single, Yazz offers: “This short interlude continues the narrative of the celebratory song of independence, Dancing Barefoot. We follow the reluctant bride outside, dancing, laughing and singing into the night. Adding a very personal touch to the piece, the track features members of my own family, recorded at our home in Bahrain, providing the party hubbub and the joyful ululations. I recorded a fragment of the original melody over a drum ensemble, which was created entirely by Corrina Silvester, with multi-tracked layers of percussion and clapping. It is perhaps the most purely Bahraini piece on the album.”
Due 28 February, A Paradise In The Hold is an album of yearning. It’s about Yazz’s dual heritage, drawing on traditional music and folklore as well as her own personal experience as a British-Bahraini woman. A sweeping epic where tradition meets innovation, she melds ancient rhythms with contemporary musicianship. The record is a tribute to the sorrowful songs of Bahrain’s pearl divers, the strength of Arab women, and the celebratory rhythms of women's traditional drumming circles, while also telling the story of Yazz’s own decade-long voyage of self-discovery.
The album also marks Yazz’s first foray into writing lyrics, in both English and Arabic, bringing a new dimension to her expansive sound. The project features an impressive roster of collaborators, including vocalists Natacha Atlas, Brigitte Beraha, and percussionist Corrina Silvester. An Ivor Novello Award-winning composer and one of the most innovative trumpet players of her generation, with A Paradise In The Hold, Yazz Ahmed delivers a groundbreaking fusion of tradition and innovation, creating a contemporary jazz project that is set to make a lasting impact on the genre.
Night Time Stories
British-Bahraini trumpeter and composer Yazz Ahmed shares a new track, ‘Into The Night’. A standout piece from her forthcoming album, A Paradise In The Hold, (out 28 February via Night Time Stories), the new single is constructed with carefully assembled layers of sound, all hinging on recordings of percussive, joyful hubbub at Yazz’s family home in Bahrain. Deeply personal, it is one of the pieces from the album that wears its Bahraini influence proudly whilst also being a remarkable celebration of female independence.
Stream/download 'Into The Night': yazz-ahmed.lnk.to/intothenight
Pre-order the new album, 'A Paradise In The Hold': yazz-ahmed.lnk.to/aparadise
On her new single, Yazz offers: “This short interlude continues the narrative of the celebratory song of independence, Dancing Barefoot. We follow the reluctant bride outside, dancing, laughing and singing into the night. Adding a very personal touch to the piece, the track features members of my own family, recorded at our home in Bahrain, providing the party hubbub and the joyful ululations. I recorded a fragment of the original melody over a drum ensemble, which was created entirely by Corrina Silvester, with multi-tracked layers of percussion and clapping. It is perhaps the most purely Bahraini piece on the album.”
Due 28 February, A Paradise In The Hold is an album of yearning. It’s about Yazz’s dual heritage, drawing on traditional music and folklore as well as her own personal experience as a British-Bahraini woman. A sweeping epic where tradition meets innovation, she melds ancient rhythms with contemporary musicianship. The record is a tribute to the sorrowful songs of Bahrain’s pearl divers, the strength of Arab women, and the celebratory rhythms of women's traditional drumming circles, while also telling the story of Yazz’s own decade-long voyage of self-discovery.
The album also marks Yazz’s first foray into writing lyrics, in both English and Arabic, bringing a new dimension to her expansive sound. The project features an impressive roster of collaborators, including vocalists Natacha Atlas, Brigitte Beraha, and percussionist Corrina Silvester. An Ivor Novello Award-winning composer and one of the most innovative trumpet players of her generation, with A Paradise In The Hold, Yazz Ahmed delivers a groundbreaking fusion of tradition and innovation, creating a contemporary jazz project that is set to make a lasting impact on the genre.
3 months ago | [YT] | 6