JEROEN MALAISE . WEST BANK ECHOES

CD-releaseconcert

Over the past three years, pianist and composer Jeroen Malaise has worked on the album West Bank Echoes, a musical diary featuring solo piano compositions inspired by his travels through the occupied Palestinian territories. In this CD release concert, the piano music is interwoven with classical Arabic music, Palestinian compositions, and traditional melodies, performed by an exceptional ensemble of musicians from the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Ramallah, Jerusalem, and Bethlehem.

This musical journey follows a route from the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem, through the desert landscapes of Al-Bariyeh to the shores of the Dead Sea, and then from the Jordan Valley to Ramallah. It unfolds as an instrumental song cycle that reflects the poetry of Mahmoud Darwish and seeks to capture a glimpse of the Palestinian soul. West Bank Echoes symbolizes a modern ‘grand tour’: a reflection of encounters, landscapes, and cultural resonances.

Ibrahim Atari – qanun
Jihad Shuaibi – percussion
Mohammad Hanoun – oud
Jeroen Malaise – piano