Layale Chaker Trio - Radio Afloat

Worldwide success

After the resounding worldwide success of her debut album 'Inner Rhyme', Lebanese top violinist Layale Chaker now presents the latest album from her band Sarafand, 'Radio Afloat': at the Intersection of Contemporary Classical, jazz, Arabic Maqam and improvisation.

Versatile musician

Born in Paris and raised in Beirut, Layale became a versatile musician, influenced by the different languages, cultures and styles around her. Her musical world straddles the border between contemporary classical, jazz, Arabic music and improvisation. She has toured extensively throughout Europe, North and South America, the Middle East and Asia, both as a soloist and with the many projects in which she is involved as an improviser or composer: from Oxford Orchestra to West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, Holland Baroque, Babylon Orchestra, Avignon Festival, Lucerne Festival, National Sawdust, London Jazz Festival, Wigmore Hall and New World Symphony. She also tours frequently with her jazz quintet Sarafand, of which she will present a smaller version tonight.

Inner Rhyme

Sarafand's beautiful debut album, Inner Rhyme - inspired by Arabic poetry - was released in 2019 and was received worldwide with great enthusiasm by, among others, The New York Times, The Strad, Songlines and Top of the World with a five-star review; it hit #2 at NPR of the 10 Best Releases of January 2019, and spent weeks at #1 on the World Charts of iTunes and Amazon Music.

Sarafand is currently touring her new album: 'Radio Afloat'. This album ��� again composed by Layale – reflects her musical world, ranging from Arabic maqam to jazz, free improvisation and contemporary classical, and is enriched in moments of improvisation by the equally eclectic musical worlds of each individual player.

Layale Chaker - violin

Phillip Golub - piano

John Hadfield - drums