Faris Ishaq
Bio
A nay player, composer and music therapist, Faris Ishaq is known for his virtuosity and unique style of nay instrumentation and composition. He has developed a distinct improvisational approach to performance, whereby he plays percussion to accompany himself while performing on the nay. He has also honed a particular sound on the nay through which he expresses sonic features of Arabic and Indian classical music, as well as jazz and other world music traditions.
He began his academic career at the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Palestine and went on to acquire a masters degree in the Global Jazz program at Berklee College of Music in Boston. He also has a bachelor’s degree in music therapy from Heidelberg University in Germany.
Faris has released three albums and has performed at international jazz festivals. Supported by the Cultural Resource, Faris produced a solo concert titled “Nay: Nature Addresses You,” which was screened virtually and performed in person at major venues around the world, including the London, Monterey, and Panama jazz festivals, as well as the RedZone Festival. Faris has also shared the stage and collaborated with world-renowned musicians including John Pattituci, Adnan Joubran and Danilo Perez.
He was recently recognized by the International Jazz Day organization, becoming the first musician to present Palestine annually in this global event and facilitating the participation of other Palestinian institutions and musicians
Released track Moses Snake
Moses Snake is the first single release from the Kham Quartet album, with the word kham meaning “raw” in Arabic. Faris was inspired by the raw material used to produce the nay instrument (sugar cane) to adopt an artistic approach that explores the ultimate and innate performance potential of this minimal flute instrument. Kham is the total belief and investment in the potential within any idea, material or human being that can be developed and deployed. In this way Faris’ music therapy practice is reflected in his holistic approach to his musical practice and as a foundation for his new project.
Production Team
Composer, Producer, Arranger, Performer, Nay, Percussion : Faris Ishaq
Co-Producer: Adnan Joubran
Harp: Tara Minton
Voice: Germana Stella La Sorsa
Percussion: Richard Olatunde
