With a somewhat occasional and fully justified presence in this space in recent times, whether solo or in a duo with Koshiro Hino tcp YPY, Australian Will Guthrie has been a tireless and imaginative propeller for the potential infinitude of drums and percussion. Spreading out, with a full sense of focus, between different fields of action, his exploration and clement and plural attack on timbre, rhythm and texture translates into valuable attacks on languages ranging from free jazz to electro-acoustic, from minimalism to gamelan, finding points of connection and cleavages between them in order to arrive at new forms. A fan of collaboration, Guthrie has forged fruitful partnerships with the likes of Mark Fell, Oren Ambarchi, Sarah Hennies and David Maranha, and this new revelation alongside Ahmed Ag Kaedy is further proof of his peripheral vision. Malian-born musician and leader of the celebrated Amanar De Kidal, Ahmed Ag Kaedy is one of the revolutionaries of the Tuareg musical tradition, alongside the likes of Tinariwen and Bombino. In exile from his hometown in northern Mali after the invasion by Islamic extremists in 2012, Ag Kaedy made his solo debut with the suffering purity of the acoustic ‘Akaline Kidal’, released by the always attentive and relevant Sahel Sounds in 2019. In this duo incarnation, Ag Kaedy once again takes the reins of electricity, aligning the circular and hypnotic guitar melodies of the “desert blues” – a somewhat simplistic and recurring term, but with its meaning – with Guthrie’s rhythmic precision, in a forceful and enchanting drive that serves as a backdrop to stories lived in his own voice. BS

Joana Guerra (Lisbon, 1983) is a cellist, composer and improviser whose restlessness and passion for experimentation have led her to collaborate with countless musicians, as well as dance, performance and theater projects, creating a unique universe that is constantly expanding. She has worked in diverse contexts, solo and collectively, moving freely between artistic disciplines. Joana incorporates a wide range of influences, including noise, improvisation, folk, jazz, experimental music, traditional or minimalist sounds, unifying these references in a distinctive approach.
She has released four albums from her solo project, the most recent being “Chão Vermelho” (Miasmah Records): impressionistic and experimental songs, aligned with the hypnosis of the cello.
She collaborates in projects in the exploratory and improvised music spectrum: The Alvaret Ensemble, Lantana, Tratado Ensemble (inspired by Cornelius Cardew’s Treatise), Orquestra do Ruído, etc. In addition to various artistic collaborations: Joëlle Léandre, Surma, Gume, João Ferro Martins, Manja Ristić, Victor Herrero, Ricardo Jacinto, Lula Pena, Mikhail Karikis, Yaw Tembe, Asimov, Tiago Sousa, Pop Dell’Arte, among others.