Asha Parkinson Quartet

Mediterranean folk song, chamber music, improvisation and the world of acoustic jazz

Asha Parkinson, praised for her “sophisticated arrangements, unpredictable melodies and inventive sax phrases” (All About Jazz), presents a vibrant evening of musical storytelling, where jazz meets Arabic Maqam and Türkü (Turkish folk song).

Alongside her acoustic jazz quartet, Parkinson is joined by Lebanese vocalist Sura Chehatli and guest artists from Jamarabia, a collective dedicated to Arabic music fusion in the UK. The programme features Asha's reinterpretations of Arabic and Turkish folk songs, as well as selections from Parkinson’s Encounters Suite—a powerful cross-cultural work inspired by the feminist poetry of Maram Al-Masri and Dana Dajani.

A BBC Young Jazz Musician semi-finalist and the creative force behind Kalpadruma, Parkinson has been described as “a powerful voice for cross-cultural dialogue” (UK Jazz News), known for her dynamic fusion of global musical traditions with emotional and artistic depth.