Photo by Tanya Traboulsi
“A” Trio is a Lebanese improvisation group founded by Mazen Kerbaj, Sharif Sehnaoui, and Raed Yassin. Formed in 2002 in Beirut during the second Irtijal Festival of Experimental Music, the three musicians went on to record their first free jazz album entitled “ A ”. Their music later moved away from its jazz roots towards a more textural approach, relying strongly on prepared and extended techniques for a heavy diversion of their respective instruments. After working together in trio and various other contexts for many years, Kerbaj, Sehnaoui and Yassin reached a characteristic sound that has been fondly described as “textural swing.” Creative yet simple, acoustic yet powerful, their live performances are playful and rely on a strong visual component.