Bachar Mar-Khalifé (Libanon)

The album On / Off by the french-lebanese keyboardist Bachar Mar-Khalifé was released last year. The artist wished to return to his roots - it was recorded in the living room of the family home, a stone house, isolated in the mountains of Jaj. It was made in 2019, during the lebanese uprising. In the house, like in the rest of the country, electricity cut of twice a day - hence the title, On / Off. The album confirmed his position as one of Lebanons most interesting artists.

Bachar Mar-Khalifé has a well known surname. He is the son of Marcel Khalifé, one of the most famous lebanese oud players. During the civil war, when Bachar was six years old, his family was forced to flee to Paris. There, Bachar Mar-Khalifé grew up, exposed to a mix of arab music, contemporary classical music, the first waves of french hip hop and so on. All these influences shaped his music, which also carries with it the memories of his homeland.

We have wanted to book him to Oslo World for a long time - he was booked last year, but it had to be postponed, for obvious reasons. He still performed, through live stream, in connection with our solidarity concert for the musicians and live scenes of Beirut, after the explosion last summer. This autumn, we can finally welcome him to Nasjonal Jazzscene and Oslo World.