Moslem Rahal, Luigi Grasso & Vahagn Hayrapetyan

An extraordinary trio will be born at Morgenland this year.

Luigi Grasso began playing the saxophone at the age of five, released his first album at 13, and began teaching at the famous Paris Conservatoire at just 24. Whether as a saxophonist or composer, Grasso and his music can be heard all over the world.

Moslem Rahal is an absolutely exceptional musician. Self-taught on the ney flute, he made his way to Damascus to continue his study. But there were no ney teachers there, so he took part in courses for the oud instead. He began to build his own instruments and quickly made a name for himself internationally. During the civil war, Jordi Savall brought him to Barcelona as an instrumentalist and consultant for the music of the Mediterranean region. Rahal got to know Grasso during a project with the NDR Big Band with Ibrahim Keivo, as the two shared mutual fascinations with each other’s music and instruments.

Vahagn Hayrapetyan is a dazzling legend of Armenian jazz. He was born into a family of musicians in Yerevan, studied at the conservatory there and later studied jazz in New York. He was a member of the famous Armenian Navy Band, which shook up the music scene in the 1990s, and has recorded several albums with his ensemble Katuner.

Line-up:
Moslem Rahal – ney
Luigi Grasso – saxophone
Vahagn Hayrapetyan – piano