Amman Jazz Fest pays special homage to Syria

If reconciliation starts anywhere, let it be music. The art of music is the art of connection, collaboration and harmony. These are the words found on the website of the Amman Jazz Festival which is paying particular homage to Syrian musicians, while hosting alongside them several international acts. Already in its third year running, the event is attracting 16 jazz acts from as far Germany and Japan to Palestine and Syria, with a particular focus on the latter. The theme "Jazz for Syria" has been chosen by the organisers this year, in collaboration with the music scene there which has been on a three-year pause, says the event's director Lama Hazboun. The annual event held at the Jordanian capital prides itself on its cultural diversity among nations of the world, she said. Dutch-based group Syrious Mission brought on stage the voices of a group of Syrian children in their performance. The five-man band form an initiative, developed by the Dutch composer Merlijn Twaalfhoven, to raise awareness, money and commitment in their country for a sustainable program of music workshops with Syrian refugees and host communities in Jordan. Syrian group, Fattet Le3bet, describes itself as a band that fuses jazz with different sounds of Oriental music, from classical to popular Arabic, from Assyrian to Kurdish, from Eastern European to Indian through to Turkish and Iranian. Soriana, which translates into 'Our Syria', is an adventurous program that brings together eminent performers, composers and improvisers from Syria and the West who create contemporary music, inspired by the rich cultural heritage of the Orient. The performers, who operate harmoniously on both Middle Eastern and Western instruments, include Syrians Basel Rajoub on the saxophone and Kenan Adnawi on the oud, alongside Italian percussionist Andrea Piccioni. The festival, which aims to become a major jazz destination in the Middle East and to promote cross-cultural cooperation and diversity, is holding shows on a virtually daily basis until the last day of May