Robinson Khoury, Wishamalii

Robinson Khoury MŸA – Electro-acoustic landscapes, roots and new directions

French-Lebanese trombonist and composer Robinson Khoury is one of the most compelling voices of the new generation of European jazz. His music weaves together jazz, Middle Eastern modal traditions, electro-acoustic textures and strong rhythmic thinking in a way that feels both deeply rooted and boldly exploratory. Khoury is known for his expressive playing, broad musical language and his ability to create music that speaks equally to the body and the mind.

For April Jazz audiences, Khoury is already a familiar name. He was the festival’s artist-in-residence in 2022, performing both as a soloist with the Espoo Big Band and with his own ensemble Sarab. In 2026, Khoury returns to April Jazz with his ambitious and distinctive MŸA programme.

MŸA is a trio led by Robinson Khoury, where music unfolds through wordless vocals, trombone, piano, percussion and modular synthesis. The name MŸA refers to the source of life itself. The project is a musical exploration of organic origins: ancient rhythms, breathing sonorities and ritual-like repetition. London Jazz Festival has described MŸA as a “spiritual odyssey”, in which the trombone becomes not just a brass instrument, but an extension of the human voice.

In MŸA, all three musicians also contribute vocally, treating the voice as an instrument among others. The trio creates an intimate yet powerful atmosphere, where acoustic tradition and modern technology merge seamlessly. The result is hypnotic and intense — music that lives fully in the moment and reveals itself layer by layer.

Robinson Khoury’s career has been on a strong upward trajectory in recent years. He has collaborated with artists such as Ibrahim Maalouf and Natacha Atlas, appeared as a soloist with the Metropole Orkest, and performed with the Quincy Jones Orchestra. In 2025, Khoury received France’s prestigious Prix Django Reinhardt as Jazz Musician of the Year, and was nominated for the Victoires du Jazz Award in the category Concert of the Year.

Robinson Khoury, trombone, vocals (FR)
Léo Jassef, piano, keyboards, vocals (FR)
Anissa Nehari, percussion, vocals (FR)

Photo: Laureen Burton

7:30 pm doors
8:00 pm Wishamalii
approx. 9:00 pm intermission
approx. 9:30 pm Robinson Khoury

Tickets €36 / €31 + order fee (from €1.50 + 0.65% of order), Lippu.fi
Duration approx. 2h 45min with intermission.

Preorder food and drinks from Café Molli using the online preorder form, by phone +358 41 3172025 or email myynti@cafemolli.fi.

Louhi Hall, Espoo Cultural Centre
Kulttuuriaukio 2, 02100 Espoo (Google Maps / HSL Journey Planner)

Wishamalii – at the meeting point of technical invention, cultural dialogue and deep emotion

Wishamalii is an ensemble formed by three adventurous, highly individual musicians from very different backgrounds. The trio has captivated audiences with its completely unique musical language, rich palette of colours, finely tuned interplay and charismatic stage presence. A key element of the group’s sound is pianist Kari Ikonen’s revolutionary invention, the Maqiano microtuning system, which allows him to play Arabic maqam scales and other micro-intervals on a concert grand piano.

The name Wishamalii refers to a Nordic way of interpreting Arab-Andalusian muwashah songs. However, most of the group’s repertoire consists of original music composed specifically for this ensemble.

Palestinian-Jordanian singer, oudist and composer Nemat Battah is an active and highly respected artist on the global music scene in Finland and Sweden. She also works as a lecturer at the Global Music Department of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.

Kari Ikonen is among the most internationally acclaimed figures in Finnish jazz and contemporary music. He is known for constantly crossing stylistic boundaries, his extensive compositional work, and a wide range of distinctive ensembles. Ikonen tours internationally both as a solo pianist and with numerous Finnish and international groups.

The rhythmic heart of the trio is Ethiopian-born Abdissa “Mamba” Assefa, one of Finland’s most distinctive and sought-after percussionists. In his playing, African rhythmic traditions, jazz and free expression merge into an organic, breathing whole that powerfully supports Wishamalii’s music.

Wishamalii’s debut album Al-Bahr (Nordic Notes, 2024) has been praised for its unique sound, rich tonal palette and exceptionally refined interplay. At April Jazz, audiences will experience a performance where technical ingenuity, cultural dialogue and deep emotion converge — music that resists categorization and creates its own rules.

Nemat Battah, vocals, oud (PS)
Kari Ikonen, piano, Maqiano, Moog synthesizer
Abdissa “Mamba” Assefa, percussion

Photo: Tero Ahonen