About
Bethlehem-born Palestinian Nay virtuoso and percussionist Faris Ishaq reimagines the Nay as a self-sustained sonic landscape, drawing audiences into an immediate and evolving musical language.
Rooted in the breath of the Nay—a Middle Eastern flute with a 5,000-year history—Faris draws from his Palestinian and Arabic musical heritage, refracted through contemporary jazz improvisation and cross-cultural exchange. His distinctive performance setup pairs the Nay with a leg-mounted frame drum, weaving breath-led improvisation, rhythmic drive, and layered acoustic textures across solo, ensemble, and orchestral contexts.
Attuned to each space he performs in, Faris moves fluidly across contrasting environments—from concert halls such as Kings Place to iconic clubs like Oslo Hackney; from international festivals including the London, Panama, and Monterey jazz festivals, to historic sites such as Southwark Cathedral and Khan Sacy in Sidon.
A frequent collaborator, he has released Supplication with multi–Grammy Award-winning bassist John Patitucci and contributed as a recording artist to the BAFTA-nominated Assassin’s Creed Mirage soundtrack. His discography includes Tripolarity (2019), Nature Addresses You (2021), Kham (2023), and JASAD (2026), alongside the premiere of A Wildscape, his original concerto for Nay and orchestra.
A Berklee Global Jazz graduate, he was awarded Best Student for his work bridging Arabic tetrachords and jazz improvisation. He is a recipient of the UK Global Talent Visa (Exceptional Leader), endorsed by Arts Council England, and is currently based in London.
