ashtabiez
About
Ashtabiez brings together distinctive musical voices through the compositions of Yamen Martini. Inspired by genres such as jazz and maqam music and influenced by encounters traversing the SWANA region and Europe, the collective fuses music mastery building on members’ classical and jazz backgrounds – and personal testimonies.
Ashtabiez are Victor Khaddaj (drums), Mehrad Hezarkhani (bass), Kuan Yu Chen (piano), Thomas Decock (guitar), and Yamen Martini (trumpet, flugelhorn). In 2023, the collective revealed its first single, Expressions, and was invited to record its first full-length album within an artist residency at De Grote Post, Ostend (Belgium), to be released in October 2024.
First full-length album now out!
Latitude features eight compositions influenced by Yamen Martini’s encounters traversing the SWANA region and Europe. The result blends crossover jazz with Maqam, incorporating microtonal scales that echo the musical traditions of the SWANA region.
Most pieces were recorded during a residency at De Grote Post in Ostend, Belgium.
Listen live
Meet us
Yamen Martini (trumpet, flugelhorn) has performed on stages and composed music for a wide range of artistic projects across the SWANA region and Europe, both as a solo artist and with groups such as 3’Ain. In 2022 he was a resident at BOZAR as part of Halaqat’s Impro Sessions. He is also a musician and coach at kleinVerhaal (Ostend, Belgium).
Jelte De Cock (drums) currently active in Le Ministère (prog-groove-jazz) and BLEND/REACT (spectral-jazz). His ongoing studies at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels focus on advanced rhythmic concepts in contemporary jazz, such as odd meters and morphing rhythms.
In 2024, he was selected to participate in a collaborative masterclass at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel.
Kuan Yu Chen (piano, keyboard) builds on performances with numerous orchestras and chamber music ensembles. He is currently pursuing his studies in jazz piano at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel and has also contributed to projects like EVIGS and KLP TRIO.
Mehrad Hezarkhani (bass guitar) is a highly skilled bassist with a deep-rooted passion for jazz music. He completed his master’s degree in jazz music at the Koninklijk Conservatorium of Brussel in 2022, following his Bachelor Diploma in Jazz Performance at the Codarts Conservatory in Rotterdam.
Get in Touch
Bookings and inquiries:
Yamen Martini
info@yamenmartini.com