Justin Adams first made his name in the 1980s with a distinctive guitar playing style that blended Arab and African influences with New Wave. He was particularly prominent in Jah Wobbles' band, and soon became a much sought-after musician, working alongside Robert Plant (on four records), Sinéad O'Connor, Natacha Atlas, Lo'jo, Tinariwen and Rachid Taha. There were many more collaborations too, including a notable, prize-winning JuJu project with the Gambian Juldeh Camara, which connected the griot tradition with the spirit of raw blues. Adams' destiny crossed paths with that of Mauro Durante during a concert led by Ludovico Einaudi. Though Durante had already toured the world with Einaudi, he was also one of the leading proponents of the South Italian pizzica style, and had led the popular Puglian music ensemble Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino since 2007, taking the baton from his father. Adams and Durante soon saw they were kindred spirits that could unite the trance-like rhythms of taranta, wild pizzica, the rawness of Arab and African blues, and mesmerising melancholy. A natural, carefully constructed combination of a wide range of global influences. Mediterranean wanderers that journey from light-hearted instrumental minimalism to hypnotic catharsis.

Presented by: Müpa Budapest