Jasad by Faris Ishaq

“When the Nay Flute moves towards the authentic self, the soul gradually moves towards the unknown. There is such brilliance in this esteemed work”  – Le Trio Joubran, Samir Joubran

Palestinian Nay master, percussionist, and composer Faris Ishaq charts unexplored territories with the Nay, an ancient Middle Eastern flute dating back to 5000 B.C. Rooted in his Palestinian heritage, Faris celebrates its cultural legacy in today’s modern musical landscape.

Jasad — Arabic for Body — draws from the breath-centered essence of the Nay, one of the oldest flutes still in use. Faris fuses Palestinian Tashbib – a percussive, improvisational Nay style – with the rhythmic footwork of Palestinian Dabke dance, playing simultaneously the Nay alongside a leg-mounted frame drum and foot percussion. With exceptional dexterity and expressive nuance, he weaves intricate melodies, dynamic beats and live sound effects, evoking textures reminiscent of looped or electronic music while remaining entirely acoustic.

At its heart, this project rekindles the quiet dialogue between breath, body, and the living landscape around us. While instant music production, Auto-Tune and AI-generated sounds are increasingly normalized, Jasad celebrates the raw connection between body and instrument as a technology of innovation.

About Faris Ishaq

Born in Bethlehem, Faris has established an international career, performing at major stages including Kings Place, the EFG London Jazz Festival, and the Monterey Jazz Festival. He has collaborated with multi-Grammy Award-winning artist John Patitucci on their single Supplication, and is a recording artist on the BAFTA-nominated soundtrack Assassin’s Creed: Mirage.

Mostly self-taught, Faris quickly gained recognition for his inventive, cross-cultural artistry. In 2018, he earned a full scholarship to study Global Jazz Performance at Berklee College of Music, where he received the Best Student Award for his innovative work blending Arabic music with jazz.

PROGRAMME:

7pm: Performance Starts

7.45pm: Interval

8.30pm:  Performance Ends

Age Recommendation:

All ages. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.

Price:

*A £2 venue levy is applied to each ticket purchased. This levy helps to support us in covering the costs of keeping our grade II listed building running and our doors open.*

In advance: • Standard £20 • Student £14 • Living Support £10     (+ £2 venue levy)
On the door: • Standard £21  • Student £15 • Living Support £11    (+ £2 venue levy)

Access Information

This event is in the Main Hall, which is located on the ground floor. The balcony is accessible only by stairs.

All the ground-floor rooms are accessible by wheelchair. Main Hall (street access, step-free), Brockway Room (street access, step-free), Bertrand Russell Room (street access, shallow ramp), Cafe (street access, step-free). There is also an accessible toilet on the ground floor opposite the Brockway Room.