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Elina Duni – Vocals & KeyboardsRob Luft – Guitar
Special Guest: Corrie Dick – Drum Kit
We are delighted to host Elina Duni and Rob Luft, two of the hottest properties in modern music, as part of their UK launch tour for new ECM album Reaching For The Moon.
In 2017, Elina and Rob’s paths crossed at the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, marking the inception of a unique project. They have since toured the world and released two critically acclaimed albums on Manfred Eicher’s iconic label, in a quartet formation. Their 2026 album Reaching For The Moon, a stripped-back duo recording, revisits the essence of their initial meeting.
Here we can witness the stark beauty of Elina’s vocals blending with Rob’s crystalline guitar lines in a mesmerising 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.
Born into an artistic family in Tirana, Albania, in 1981, Elina Duni made her first steps on the stage as a singer aged five, singing for Albanian National Radio and Television.
In 1992, after the fall of the communist regime, she emigrated to Geneva, Switzerland, with her mother, where she started studying classical piano and thereafter discovered jazz.
She went on to study on the jazz programme at the Hochschule der Künste in Bern. During this time, she formed the Elina Duni Quartet with Colin Vallon on piano, Patrice Moret on double bass and Norbert Pfammatter on drums. This represented a return to her musical roots, a combination of Balkan folksong and contemporary jazz.
After two albums on Meta Records, the quartet went on to release for ECM Records in 2012, with a follow-up album in 2015, both of which were praised by European jazz media for their lightness as well as their subtle manner of exploring Albanian folklore.
In 2017, she was the recipient of the Swiss Music Prize and simultaneously began working with young jazz star Rob Luft.
In 2020, “Lost Ships” was released on ECM Records featuring Rob Luft, Fred Thomas and Matthieu Michel. This album was awarded “Jazz Album Of The Year” by Presto Music & was also nominated for “Album Of The Year” in the annual German Jazz Awards.
“A Unique Voice In Jazz” – John Fordham, The Guardian
“As always with Elina Duni & Rob Luft, this is a thoughtful, beautifully articulated work of jazz poetry” – Jazzwise Magazine
Rob Luft, recently crowned ‘Instrumentalist of the Year’ at the 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards, is undeniably one of the most exciting jazz guitarists in Europe of his generation. Hailing from London, this award-winning virtuoso has garnered consistent comparisons to legends such as Bill Frisell, John McLaughlin and Pat Metheny.
His debut album, “Riser,” released in 2017 on Edition Records, made an enormous impact on the domestic and international jazz scenes, and was selected by Downbeat Magazine as one of the finest albums of the year. Winning the prestigious Kenny Wheeler Jazz Prize at The Royal Academy of Music had propelled Luft’s career, and at just 23 years old, he presented a collection of originals showcasing a remarkable instrumental sound and compositional voice that reflected his individuality.
His highly-anticipated follow up album, “Dahab Days,” showcased continuous artistic growth and musical exploration. Released on Edition Records in October 2023, the album marked another significant milestone in his career. Around this time, Luft’s selection as a BBC New Generation Artist culminated with him being commissioned to compose a guitar concerto for performance at the 2023 London Jazz Festival with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Recent collaborations with John Surman, Manu Katché and Elina on the legendary German record label ECM Records have further solidified his reputation and expanded his reach throughout continental Europe.
Other accolades include the Silver Prize in The 2016 Montreux Jazz Guitar Competition at Montreux Jazz Festival, adjudicated by guitar great John McLaughlin, as well as winning the Presto Music “Jazz Recording of the Year” 2024 for his trio album “As Time Passes” with legendary Norwegian bassist Arild Andersen.
“…A singular talent, a fluent improviser and a composer of catchy, earthy, infectiously upbeat tunes. Luft’s sound is joyously original, robust and in-your-face…” – Cormac Larkin, The Irish Times
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Event Venue
Dunkley Street, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
