Art Connects: Jazz Oud Quartet with Mahmoud Al Khatib and Žiga Kroflič

Similarly, the music of the Jazz Oud Quartet, with its delicate fusion of European jazz and Oriental traditions – especially Arabic muwashahat, Iranian radif, and Indian raga – takes us into numerous spiritual, cultural, historical, imaginative, and many other worlds, whether near or distant.

The quartet of accomplished musicians – the exceptional lute player Boris Šinigoj, versatile artist and renowned jazz multi-instrumentalist Lado Jakša, and experienced string players, violinist Tomaž Šinigoj and double bassist/cellist Miha Šinigoj, have invited electric guitarist Žiga Kroflič and singer, oud player, and darbuka drummer Mahmoud Al Khatib to collaborate.

At the concert on the Day of the Mediterranean, which is a simultaneous event celebrated around the Mediterranean on November 28, 2023, at 7:00 p.m., these musical virtuosos will embark on discovering new musical crossroads of diverse Mediterranean cultures. In playful jazz-ethno-crossover improvisations, such as sounds of the Arabic oud and electric keyboards, saxophone and strings, Persian daf with the echo of electric guitar will symbolically unite not only what the Mediterranean shares but also ancient and modern musical heritage.

At the same location at 5:30 p.m., you are also invited to attend the round table entitled “The power of music, poetry, and literature as media of intercultural dialogue”, which will offer an interactive reflection on what role art plays in and how art promotes intercultural dialogue and connects people and countries across the Mediterranean, with a special emphasis on literature and poetry. The round table discussion with interesting panelists will be moderated by journalist and creator Mimi Podkrižnik.

Round Table Guests:
mag. Tina Vodnik, MA, Head of the Sector for Africa and the Middle East, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
Prof. Dr. Abdelhamid El-Zoheiry, President of the Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI)
Tanja Tuma, President of the Slovenian PEN Centre
Mohamad Abdul Munem, Syrian publisher and writer of Palestinian origin

Admission to the event is free, but space is limited. You can reserve your spot at: apis@zavodapis.si

You can also follow the event live through the following link: https://youtube.com/live/ZzW6ve2Bab8?feature=share

Organizers’ Contacts:
Romana Zajec: m: +386 31 338 616, e: romana@zavodapis.si

Public Relations Contacts:
Manca Juvan: m: +386 70 837 137, e: manca@zavodapis.si
MFEA: dragan.barbutovski@gov.si; pr.mzz@gov.si

The event is co-organized by the APIS Institute with the support of the Anna Lindh Foundation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia. The venue for the event is provided by the Museum of Contemporary History of Slovenia.