DOHA: The Awakenings Ensemble, a Doha-based three-piece group that combines jazz, Arabic, and electronic influences is set to enthrall music lovers at Offbeat, a night of music performance and sound art at the Katara Art Center (KAC) on Saturday.
Featuring Mike Pignéguy on keyboards, percussion, and electronics, Yassine Ayari on ney and atmospherics, and James Beard on bass guitar and loops, the group’s original material style blends improvisation, technique, moody atmosphere.
The musicians will be showcasing their new approach to live performance, incorporating a focus on new music technology. Each performer will utilise a sound station that allows each member to transform their role with the other musicians and develop a style of performance that blends traditional technique and a technological approach.
KAC team member and Offbeat coordinator Karim Sultan will be performing a set of compositions for oud and computer. Offbeat was launched with the intention of giving Doha-based sound artists, musicians, and producers a platform to perform and present their original work to an audience of active listeners.
“Experimentation, improvisation, and pushing the creative envelope with music is a part of contemporary art practice and is a natural extension of our growing program,” explains Sultan.The Peninsula
