Fotoverslag | Aleph Quintet + João Barradas - Marni Jazz Festival 2026
At Marni yesterday, Aleph Quintet welcomed accordionist João Barradas for a compelling journey through contemporary jazz and North African musical traditions.
Based in Brussels, the quintet brings together Akram Ben Romdhane on oud, Marvin Burlas on violin, Wajdi Riahi on piano, Théo Zipper on double bass and Diogo Alexandre on drums. Their music is built on a finely balanced dialogue between hypnotic rhythms, modern harmonic language and the melodic heritage of North Africa. With Barradas’ accordion joining the ensemble, the sonic palette became even richer, adding another layer of colour and counterpoint.
Following their critically acclaimed debut Shapes of Silence, Aleph Quintet is now presenting Hiwar, Arabic for “dialogue”, a project centred precisely on the encounter between musical inheritances and contemporary sensibilities. At Marni, that concept felt particularly tangible: oud and violin lines intertwined with piano, accordion and a supple rhythm section, while improvisation allowed each voice to emerge without breaking the collective flow. The result was an intense, deeply atmospheric performance, moving between cultures, traditions and contemporary jazz with remarkable fluidity.
Vrijdag, 19 september 2026, Marni (Brussel, BE) | Foto's & tekst: Cristina Vergara
