Karkhana

Karkhana is an improvising septet formed in Beirut in 2014 by musicians from Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey and the United States. The group mixes free jazz, Arabic tarab and psychedelic rock in long collective improvisations, with oud, zurna and organ set against electric guitars, bass and drums. Karkhana's members are Mazen Kerbaj (trumpet), Sharif Sehnaoui (guitar), Tony Elieh (bass), Sam Shalabi (oud, guitar), Maurice Louca (organ), Umut Çağlar (double reeds, flutes) and Chicago drummer Michael Zerang. Their releases include Live at Metro Al Madina on Sagittarius A-Star and Nafas on Omlott.