We’re excited to present a premiere release from new, cinematic jazz outfit Bahla.
Hailing from a mixture of nationalities with Jewish roots, Bahla took form after Venezuelan pianist Joseph Costi crossed paths with English guitarist Tal Janes at university in London. Their meeting lifted the lid off a collection of Jewish folk melodies preserved in their respective childhood memories, albeit in two different corners of the world. They began researching the wide spread geography and history of the music, ranging from North-African rhythms, liturgical melodies and yiddish art songs from Russia and, in deciding to bring their findings to life through their music, so to Bahla was born.
‘Piyut’ sees radiant vocals delivered over delicate melodies on keys and guitar, a theme in much of Bahla’s music. It takes its name from a jewish liturgical poem popular in North Africa designed around a repeating melody with verses or improvisation in between. Inspiring the track is Moroccan Rabbi and cantor Haim Louk, internationally recognized as a virtuoso of classical Andalusian music, who often favours a 12/8 time signature at the peak of the tune to give it a North African touch.
“Traditionally a Piyut is religious poetry set to a repeating melody, which larger groups would sing/play together with variations and we wanted to re-create that feeling with only 3 of us (+ a percussion loop). We’re also really into Haim Louk who is a Moroccan Rabbi which comes out in this.” Tal Janes
‘Piyut’ arrives ahead of the band’s debut self-release Imprints on December 8th, a collection of 8 songs inspired by different stories of identity, migration and displacement. The music is home to many influences ranging from Radiohead to Polar Bear and Shai Maestro, but has kept Jewish folk traditions at its core.
“We wanted to find out how Jewish music evolved through migration and to then bring those principals into our own music. Imprints is about celebrating different cultures meeting and making something new from it” Tal Janes
Breaking new ground with their unique mix of cinematic jazz entangled with Jewish folklore, the London-based 5-piece outfit will launch the project with a show at St. Mary’s Music Hall in Walthamstow, London on December 7th.