Wishamalii
Al-bahr
Wishamalii are a phenomenon! The band consists of three adventurous musicians with very diverse cultural backgrounds (Finnish, Palestinian-Jordanian and Ethiopian). Shortly after its formation, the trio already sounds like a well-rehearsed ensemble that impresses live audiences with its unusual sounds, strong presence, and great charm. A special trademark of the band: pianist Kari Ikonen has invented the "Maqiano Microtuning System," which enables him to play the Arabic harp Maqamat on the acoustic piano! The name Wishamalii refers to the Nordic way of reinterpreting the Arabic-Andalusian Muwashah chants. On their debut album 'Al-Bahr,' Wishamalii combine tradition with creativity through a selection of original melodies, specially written and arranged for the band, along with some Muwashahat. These are one of the most important vocal music forms in traditional Arabic music. The best examples of this are the first and last songs of the album.