Saz’iso

Nine musicians representing different styles of Albanian folk music come together for a special tour of the UK, calling at LSO St Luke’s on 4 November as part of the Barbican’s contemporary music programme this autumn. The handpicked ‘supergroup’ are a powerful example of Albania’s rich folk music scene, a musical landscape almost completely untouched by Western influences well into the late 1990s.

This style, known as Saze and originating from the towns of Korça and Përment, is an entrancing polyphonic music. In Saze ‘lead’ and ‘cutting’ voices follow an ancient pattern, whilst improvising elaborate swirls around the melody, accompanied by urban instruments such as clarinet and violin. This style can range from the blues-like mood known as ‘kaba’ to joyful dances, all of which will be finely demonstrated by the performers brought together for Saz’iso.

The project is spearheaded by veteran record and film producer Joe Boyd whose credits include tracks by Pink Floyd, Fairport Convention and Nick Drake, as well as organising the scoring of Deliverance and Clockwork Orange. Furthermore, Saz’iso will release an album titled At Least Wave Your Handkerchief via the Glitterbeat label on 13 October 2017, a record engineered by Grammy-award winner Jerry Boys whose
previous credits include Buena Vista Social Club.