Edinburgh International Festival review: Aga Khan Masters

Aga Khan Master Musicians

The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh

The line-up of virtuosos who trade as the Master Musicians of the Aga Khan Music Programme is not constant, and this year’s group, as well as featuring international-renowned pipa player and associate of the Kronos Quartet, Wu Man, adds two Vincents from France.

Cellist Vincent Segal left classical orchestral music behind for a career that has seen him play with Sting alongside Scots harper Mary McMaster, while accordionist Vincent Peirani’s CV includes gigs with Elvis Costello.

As a composer, Peirani brought two of the funkier tunes to the table, although the source material is never quite as important as the inspired direction that these players choose to take the theme. Segal was crucial to this show in his rhythmic riffing, because percussionist Abbos Kosimov, whose solo feature has been a highlight of the group’s sets, was notably absent.

The Hub has become a home from home (Image: Ryan Buchanan)

There was still complex rhythmic richness to be appreciated, however, with the oud of Yurdal Tokcan, and Wu Man’s pipa in the mix. Although a comparatively compact outfit, on a number of occasions the dynamic recalled the 1960s ethno-musical experiments of American trumpeter Don Ellis, who scored the film The French Connection.

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Alongside Peirani, kanoun player Feras Charestan was a featured composer in the selections that made the cut on this occasion, while the accordion of Peirani and soprano saxophonist Basel Rajoub were the most often featured solo voices. Rajoub’s own Tashkent, a celebration of an Islamic capital that has not suffered the recent destruction of cities in his native Syria, was another highlight, with its eloquent solo opening from Wu Man.

Many of these musicians now have long associations with the Edinburgh Festival, and the Aga Khan Music Programme has become a partner that offers a gold standard guarantee of performance. Just as importantly, in their post-pandemic appearances, they seem to regard Festival HQ, The Hub, as a home-from-home in Scotland.