Ustad Noor Bakhsh + Pankisi Ensemble

Ustad Noor Bakhsh (PK)

Ustad Noor Bakhsh, from the region of Balochistan in Pakistan, is a master of the benju, a unique and rather strange-looking instrument – Songlines journalist Chris Menist has described it as looking like a ‘slide guitar with typewriter keys’. Now in his late 70s, Bakhsh has played the benju since childhood, rising to become something of a legend of Balochi music as an accompanist while remaining almost unknown outside his home region. Enter anthropologist Daniyal Ahmed, whose viral videos of Bakhsh have propelled him to late-age stardom, a recorded album, and a ten-country European tour. ‘When I play benju,’ says Bakhsh, ‘I feel young.’ We approve that message. 

Ustad Noor Bakhsh: benju – Doshambay: damboora

Pankisi Ensemble (GE) 

The Pankisi Ensemble are an all-female vocal group from the Pankisi Gorge intent on preserving but also developing some of the lesser-known vocal and instrumental genres of Chechen music rarely heard outside of their home community, including epic legends, Sufi religious chants and even love songs. Sitting alongside these Chechen songs are compositions from different parts of their native country of Georgia, giving a wonderful insight into the musical cultures of the Caucasus. It’s an area of the world that has featured only too rarely in Druga Godba’s repertoire, so we’re delighted to play host at last to this fascinating quartet.

Bela Mutoshvili: voice, accordion – Lana Gunashashvili: voice, phandar – Linda Gunashashvili: voice – Mariami Bagakashvili: voice