"A" Trio

"A" Trio is a free improvisation group from Beirut, formed in 2002 during the second Irtijal festival by Mazen Kerbaj (trumpet), Sharif Sehnaoui (acoustic guitar) and Raed Yassin (double bass). Their first CD, issued in 2003, is described as the first free jazz album produced in the Arab world. Over the years the trio moved away from jazz towards a music of texture built on prepared instruments and extended techniques. The members organise the Irtijal festival and run the Al Maslakh and Annihaya labels.