The Iranian bassist and composer Arin Keshishi is a musical omnivore, devouring elements of Western classical music, jazz and flamenco, and blending them with the influences of his Armenian roots. Growing up in Tehran, he has since moved to Amsterdam, and joining the Marmoucha Orchestra has played a key role in his musical development. Keshishi is the artistic director of the orchestra, which comprises young musicians who bridge the gap between East and West. The Marmoucha Orchestra repertoire hails from the Maghreb and the Middle East, but is just as comfortable incorporating elements from jazz, pop and electronic music. Keshishi has made his mark by collaborating with many international musicians. He was involved in over five hundred studio recordings, but only recently released his solo debut Self-reflection, which will be at the heart of his performance in collaboration with the orchestra at this year’s festival.
