Kinan Azmeh and CityBand
Live in Berlin

Kinan Azmeh, clarinet
Kyle Sanna, guitar
Josh Myers, bass
John Hadfield, drums

catalog number: 21163

"This album is a celebration of friendship that began in 2006 at Cafe Epistrophy in lower Manhattan in New York City when three friends: Kyle, John and myself performed together for the first time. Josh joined us a year later to complete this quartet that I have always been describing as my family away from my family, and with whom I have shared many stages, hotels, meals, early pickups, missing luggage, laughters, worries and also discovered the world.Most of this music was composed and performed during a difficult time of my life that began with the Syrian uprising in 2011, music that is inspired by anger, sadness, frustration, and above all the need to hold on to one’s optimism, hope and creative tools in the face of atrocities. It moves me profoundly to be sharing this album with the world as my Syrian people are able to sing again after their long and costly struggle against tyranny and dictatorship. 

This album is dedicated to all who believe that making music is also an act of freedom." Kinan Azmeh

“There is a peace wrapped in Azmeh’s music that is palpable, and warm as a baby bunting. I want to hold these compositions close and feel their heartbeat.” - Making A Scene Magazine

digital release: February 28, 2025
physical release: April 4, 2025