Concert of USTAD NOOR BAKHSH (PK) | Vilnius

On 14 June, 8 pm, we invite you to the concert of USTAD NOOR BAKHSH, the master of Benju (zither) from Pakistan, who is rightly called a legend.

Ustad Noor Bakhsh, from near Pasni, Balochistan, is a maestro of the Balochi Benju (a keyed Zither), which he has played since he was a child.

He has long been widely known as a legendary instrumentalist throughout the Makran coast, but has only gained wide international attention after his recent audio and video performances - his performance at BOILER ROOM generated a powerful wave of admiration, with the video receiving over 78,000 views.

The Benju, was once a Japanese children’s toy called the taishōkoto before it was adopted by Balochi musicians and made into the refined folk instrument that it is today. Noor Bakhsh plays an electric Benju,. He continues the legacy of his teachers and inspirations, such as Bilawal Belgium and Misri Khan Jamali, but his own music is influenced by a wide range of traditions and musical forms far beyond Balochistan.

The music of the virtuoso is deeply rooted in Baloch musical forms and enriched by his knowledge of South Asian raaga, which he also performs in his own experimental style.

For listeners unfamiliar with Baloch music, Noor Bakshʼs electric Benju tone and its melodic ornaments will be reminiscent of Ali Farka Toureʼs style, while the polyrhythmic sixes and eights, with their many experimental innovations and improvisations, will make the body move in a way very much like West and East African music.

This is not surprising, given the migrations and maritime development, and the historical, intimate links between Balochistan and Africa across the great Indian Ocean world. We promise, this music is refreshing.