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Ancient musical traditions from the Middle East and Balkans are blended with jazz and contemporary improvised music through a Western frame of mind.
Arifa’s secret lies in the creative chemistry between its four members. Coming from Bulgaria, Hungary, Turkey, the Netherlands and Germany their music is just as diverse as their origins, moving from traditional Turkish and Balkan sounds to jazz and contemporary music.
Their CD ’Beyond Babylon’ was released in 2010, ’Anatolian Alchemy’ in 2012, “Voices from the East” in 2014 and their fourth album Secret Poetry” in 2019. They were consecutively awarded the title “best world music release” in the Netherlands to five star reviews and highly acclaimed internationally.
Arifa was founded in 2010 by percussionist Sjahin During. Since then they have performed in 24 countries worldwide and 5 continents at international festivals and venues such as the Jazzahead, Concertgebouw, London Jazz Festival Southbank Centre, Kennedy Art Centre USA, Ethnoport Festival, Off Womex, Jarasum International Jazz Festival,Chicago World Music Festival, Amsterdam Roots, Bimhuis, Garana Jazz, Havana Jazz, Istanbul Akbank Festival, Shanghai World Music Festival, de Roma, Barbican’s Transcender Festival, Glatt & Verkehrt Festival, Ollin Kan Mexico, BBC Broadcasting House London.
They have collaborated in the past with amazing artists as Aynur Doğan, Arto Tunçboyacıyan, Theodosii Spassov, Laka Khan, Alex Simu, Osama Abdulrasol, Mehmet Polat, Waed Bouhassoun, “Voices from the East” featuring Niusha Barimani, Meng Xiaoxu, Vanya Valkova, that resulted in concerts, recordings and tours.
Although Arifa is based in the Amsterdam – Netherlands, this quartet truly matches the spirit of the European Jazz Meeting with its members originally hailing from Romania, Turkey, the Netherlands and Germany. Their music is just as diverse as their origins, moving from traditional Turkish and Arabic orient sounds to jazz and classical music. Arifa’s inspired arrangements and inventive compositions create an intense, radiant atmosphere. Jazzahead 2013
Arifa has released five albums which all are received with outstanding reviews and high attention by the media and audience. Awarded as best world music releases in the Netherlands consecutively for three years and distinguished with 5 star reviews by various publications (such as Songlines, Transglobal World Music Chart, All About Jazz)
- Zhivko Vasilev – kaval (Bulgaria)
- Bence Huszar – cello (Hungary)
- Franz von Chossy – piano (Germany)
- Sjahin During – percussion (Turkey/Netherlands)
