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BOI AKIH

the voice is a beautiful instrument and the guitar has a beautiful voice

About Me

BOI AKIH effortlessly weaves modern jazz and improvised music with folk traditions from all over the world, creating a unique sound that is unconventional, yet totally recognisable and accessible. Acoustic sounds merge with the versatile, warm voice of Monica Akihary, who sings and writes her poems in both English and Haruku, the endangered language of her father’s island (Moluccas/Indonesia/Melanesia). She is an exceptional vocalist who sends her song directly into the listener's soul.

In Storyteller Akihary and virtuoso guitarist and intriguing composer Niels Brouwer, who form BOI AKIH, are joined by Hungarian recorder player Dodó Kis and Guinean kora player Sekou Dioubate. With musical curiosity Kis moves nomadically between styles and traditions, from early music to Hungarian folk music. Dioubate plays a 35-string kora with additional chromatic strings, specially designed for BOI AKIH’s repertoire. He combines his knowledge of the West African musical tradition with an inquiring mind. These four evoke a world where boundaries dissolve and the distances between places, time and traditions don’t seem to exist.

the press about BOI AKIH

Feb 2021 All About Jazz “Storyteller is a wonderfully resonant blend of cultures and textures which hails traditions and innovations alike. Akihary and Brouwer have always shown deep respect for tradition but know, too, that without evolution there is stagnation. Above all, however, the music is a tale of ingenuity, loss, resilience and, ultimately, of triumph.”

Jan 2021 Jazz Nu “..balance, daring, new musical insights and an intriguing mix of composed and, especially, improvised music.”

“Her scats are unpredictable, brimming with maturity and confronting within the concept that Boi Akih has developed. In the piece Imaginary Journey she builds an impressive duo with Niels Brouwer, who in turn, with his completely individual guitar sound, lifts the quartet to a higher plane.”

“…composition(s). They are all by Niels Brouwer. Monica Akihary is responsible for the lyrics, which are also of top quality and given an extra boost by their addition to the CD booklet. Boi Akih displays sophisticated craftsmanship down to the smallest details, outshining by far top Dutch jazz and improvisation ensembles.

Dec 2020 Salt Peanuts “Storyteller” is another great album from Boi Akih, and if you get the opportunity to hear the two, three or the whole “hurven” (band) live nearby, sometime after corona has left us, then you should grab the chance. I can guarantee you a delightful concert.

read more: https://www.boiakih.com/