Contemporary Vocal Jazz in Arabic & Hebrew
Supported by Initiative Musik gGmbH with project funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media
Photo: Kaan Opé
CONTACT
Sophie Tassignon
Zur Innung 40
10247 Berlin
Tel: +49 163 877 48 96
E-mail: sophietassignon@gmail.com
www.sophietassignon.com
Photo: Katrin Andrzejewski
::: BAND MEMBERS :::
Sophie Tassignon: voice
Peter Meyer: guitar
Roland Fidezius: double bass
Klaus Kugel: drums
VIDEOS
:::
ABOUT KHYAL
Khyal’s debut album, released in October 2023 on WERF Records, features eight songs sung in Arabic. The project grew from Sophie Tassignon’s deep personal encounter with Syrian refugees in 2016. As she helped them build new lives in Germany, she felt compelled to cross into their world—learning their language and culture as an act of solidarity and understanding.
Two years later, she made a surprising discovery: many of her new Syrian friends had never heard jazz music. This sparked a powerful idea—what if she sang jazz in Arabic, just to see how it resonated? The answer came through two intense years of study, rehearsal, and collaboration with her quintet, culminating in an album that was met with glowing reviews and wide acclaim.
Now, Sophie Tassignon is turning her attention to a new project, shaped by the turmoil and yearning of the Middle East. Her upcoming album sets Arabic and Hebrew poetry to music—a bold artistic gesture toward peace. By letting both languages sing side by side, she invites listeners to imagine a shared humanity beyond conflict, where voices unite in harmony rather than division.
Sophie Tassignon’s KHYAL – W.E.R.F. Records (Okt. 2023)
“[Tassignon] is, in the truest sense of the word, an artist who paves the way for new forms of human connection that have yet to be explored.”
– Andrea Baroni, Tracce di Jazz, November 7, 2023
“This is more than just a successful album; it is an absolute must for lovers of sophisticated music.”
– Jean-Claude Vantroyen, MAD, November 15, 2023
“A fascinating combination that is far removed from any ‘ethnic clichés’ and uniquely blends contemporary jazz with Arabic-influenced poetry. And not only that, she sings in Arabic, and with her strong and distinctive voice she masterfully navigates the nuances across a broad spectrum of melodies, conveying intense emotions through the interpreted poetic texts. Highly recommended.”
– Pierre Dulieu, Dragonjazz, October 27, 2023
“With the saxophone serving as a vessel for emotive melodies, the language of music transcends verbal barriers, resonating directly with our hearts and evoking profound emotions.”
– Thoralf Winkler, Jazz in der Kammer, April 22, 2023
Photo: Axel Wemheuer