USTAD NOOR BAKHSH

In the organizer's words:

Ustad Noor Bakhsh comes from near Pasni in Balochistan and is a master of the benju, a kind of zither with keys. He has been playing this instrument since he was a child. He has long been known in the region along the Makran coast, but it was only through new videos and recordings that he became famous beyond the region.

The benju was originally a Japanese children's toy called taishōkoto. Over time, Baloch musicians turned it into a real folk instrument. Noor Bakhsh plays an electric version of it - with an old pickup and a small Phillips amplifier that he bought 20 years ago in Karachi.

He continues the work of his teachers and role models such as Bilawal Belgium and Misri Khan Jamali. But his music goes beyond that - it is deeply rooted in the Balochi tradition, but also open to other influences such as Indian raags, which he interprets in his very own, experimental way.

His repertoire also includes Persian and Kurdish melodies - sounds that were probably widespread in his region long before today's national borders. In one recording he even played an Arabic ghazal.

Popular and folk songs from all of Pakistan's major languages are also included. His pieces in Sindhi, which make the musical exchange between Sindh and Balochistan audible, are particularly exciting. Of course, he also plays Bollywood songs - Noor Bakhsh absorbs the sounds of his surroundings like a sponge, even the bird calls from the mountains and forests of his homeland.

In addition to traditional songs, he has also written his own pieces - for example one inspired by bird songs. His debut album Jingul was released digitally in September 2022 and was also released on vinyl by British label Hive Mind Records in September 2023.

For those who are not yet familiar with Baloch music: His electric Benju playing is reminiscent of artists like Ali Farka Touré. The rhythmic patterns and improvisations are reminiscent of music from West and East Africa - no coincidence, as Balochistan has always been connected to Africa via the Indian Ocean. Noor Bakhsh brings this old world to life with his music.