For those unaware, based out of Baltimore, The! Warshanna Septet produces hard bop that is boundary pushing and a hark to the past.

Indeed, their leader, Ahmed Warshannahas a unique compositional voice fueled by his passion for combining the East and West in his music.

This delicate alchemy is a result of the musical environment he was raised in, an Egyptian-American household, where he was exposed to artists ranging from Frank Sinatra to Umm Kulthum.

Ahmed stumbled into jazz when he joined his high school big band in 2012 and unexpectedly fell in love with the genre. His love blossomed at UMBC where he studied with Tom Lagana and Matt Belzer, ultimately graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Studies and a Music Achievement award in 2020.

While Ahmed incorporates Eastern and Western influences in his sound, he also appreciates the established jazz idiom, as seen in his single, 'Boo Bear'.

On his debut album, Ishta, Ahmed combines the music of his favorite Egyptian artists with the style of hard bop and the result is a refreshing, new sound that is unique to The! Warshanna Septet.

1. 'Inty Omry' (9:35)
2. 'Alf Leila' (9:07)
3. 'Samaka' (6:56)
4. 'Azra'' (8:19)
5. 'Intisar' (9:30)

This nearly 50 minute album opens on the atmospheric scene setting ambiance of 'Inty Omry' and the upbeat, and gently fervent 'Alf Leila,' before we are next treated to the late night, laid back, smoky underground jazz club appeal of 'Samaka,' with the ornate 'Azra'' and the forthright 'Intisar' bringing the remarkably open, and earnestly honest recording to a close.

Instruments and Players:
Guitar / Ahmed Warshanna
French Horn / Abram Wolfe Mamet
Tenor Saxophone / Brendan Schnabel
Tenor + Alto Saxophone / Dominic Ellis
Keyboard / Joshua Miller
Bass / Thomas Owens
Drums / Charlie Seda

www.ahmedwarshanna.com

Ahmed Warshanna @ YouTube

Ahmed Warshanna @ Twitter