In 2017\, Elina Duni and Rob Luft'\;s paths crossed at the Montreux Jazz Festival\, marking the inception of a unique project. They have since toured the world and released two critically acclaimed albums on ECM Records in a quartet formation. Their upcoming 2026 album\, a stripped-back duo effort\, revisits the essence of their initial meeting.
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\n\nHere we can witness the stark beauty of Elina Duni&rsquo\;s vocals blending with Rob Luft'\;s crystalline guitar lines in a mesmerizing dance. Together\, they weave a tapestry of songs that evoke the mystery and joy of the night\, the moon\, and the magic that lives within us all. This musical journey is a gentle caress\, a soothing lullaby that offers hope in the darkness\, reminding us of the solace of home.
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\n\nElina Duni - Vocals &\; Percussion
\n\nRob Luft - Guitar &\; Electronics
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\n\nAbout the Musicians \;
\n\nElina Duni \;was born in 1981 into an artistic family in Tirana\, Albania. She first appeared on stage at the age of five\, singing for Albanian National Radio and Television. In 1992\, following the fall of the communist regime\, she moved to Geneva\, Switzerland\, with her mother. There\, she began studying classical piano and soon discovered jazz\, a decisive encounter that would shape her musical path. Elina Duni went on to study jazz at the Hochschule der Kü\;nste in Bern. During this period\, she formed the \;Elina Duni Quartet \;with pianist Colin Vallon\, double bassist Patrice Moret\, and drummer Norbert Pfammatter. The quartet marked a return to her roots\, blending Balkan folk traditions with the language of jazz. After releasing Baresha \;(2008) and Lume Lume \;(2010) on Meta Records\, the quartet began a long-standing collaboration with ECM Records\, releasing Matanë\; Malit \;(Beyond the Mountain\, 2012) and Dallë\;ndyshe \;(Swallow\, 2015). Both albums were widely praised by the European press for their lyrical subtlety and refined exploration of Albanian folklore. In 2014\, Duni released her first singer-songwriter album\, Muza e Zezë\; \;(The Black Muse)\, in Kosovo and Albania. A recipient of the Swiss Music Prize in 2017\, Elina Duni released Partir \;(ECM\, 2018)\, a solo project in which she accompanies herself on piano\, acoustic guitar\, and percussion. The album received widespread critical acclaim across Europe. Around the same time\, she began collaborating with acclaimed London-based guitarist Rob Luft. Their artistic partnership led to Lost Ships \;(ECM\, 2020)\, featuring Luft alongside Fred Thomas and Matthieu Michel\, and was once again praised by the international press. The quartet reunited for A Time to Remember\, released on ECM in 2023. \;
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\n\nRob Luft \;is an award-winning jazz guitarist from London whose virtuosic and lyrical playing has drawn comparisons with six-string legends John McLaughlin\, Al Di Meola\, and Paco De Lucia. He was the recipient of the Kenny Wheeler Prize \;from the Royal Academy of Music in 2016 and won \;Second Prize at the Montreux Jazz Guitar Competition \;the same year. His debut album\, Riser \;(Edition Records\, 2017)\, was released to widespread critical acclaim across Europe. Writing in The Guardian\, John Fordham described it as &ldquo\;a very sophisticated debut&rdquo\;\, adding that\, &ldquo\;given Luft&rsquo\;s old-soul achievements since his early teens\, we should have heard it coming&rdquo\;. Following the success of Riser\, Luft received a series of major nominations\, including Breakthrough Act \;at the 2018 Jazz FM Awards and Instrumentalist of the Year \;at both the 2019 Jazz FM Awards and the 2020 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. In May 2019\, he was selected as a BBC New Generation Jazz Artist. His second album\, Life Is the Dancer\, was released on Edition Records in April 2020 and was again met with critical acclaim. That same year\, despite the global lockdowns\, Luft made his debut on the legendary ECM Records \;with Lost Ships\, a collaborative project with Swiss-Albanian singer Elina Duni. The album was nominated for International Album of the Year \;at the 2021 German Jazz Prize. Concert highlights include performances with Django Bates\, The Cinematic Orchestra\, Arve Henriksen\, and Manu Katché\;. Luft is a regular member of several of the UK&rsquo\;s leading contemporary jazz ensembles\, including The John Surman Quartet\, Byron Wallen&rsquo\;s Four Corners\, and the Iain Ballamy Quintet. His playing has also been documented on numerous recordings over the past decade for renowned labels such as ECM Records\, Edition Records\, Ropeadope\, and Linn Records. \;
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\n\nPhotos: Atdhe Mulla
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