Jazzfest Berlin 2026: ¡ Ya voy !

Miraflores

¡ Ya voy ! – Vier Personen vor einem alten, grünen Zug mit Rostflecken auf der Karosserie.

¡ Ya voy !: Miraflores

(CO, FR)

German premiere

This ebullient quartet includes two of the strongest figures in French improvised music: saxophonist Sakina Abdou, who played a riveting solo concert at Jazzfest Berlin 2025, and double bassist Thibault Cellier, who is part of pianist Joachim Kühn’s trio that played the festival in 2024. But ¡ Ya voy ! is built around the traditional music of its two other members, singer Alejandra Charry and percussionist and marimba player Moises Zamora Mezù, who grew up together in the village of El Cabuyal in Colombia’s Pacific coastal region of Valle del Cauca – the former moved to France in 2004, while the latter remains in his homeland. Through the group’s music, their lifelong bond is palpable, rooted in this shared culture far removed from more dominant styles like cumbia and salsa. More than 80 different rhythms thrive on Colombia’s west coast, where the marimba is a key instrument. Drawing on these rich musical traditions, Charry’s dynamic singing provides as much propulsion as it does melody. At times the group evokes the spirit of the great Totó la Momposina, who passed away at age 85 in May this year.

But while rooted in these traditions, ¡ Ya voy ! carves out a space of its own thanks to the exploratory mindset of Abdou and Cellier. The French musicians manage to cleave the imperturbable grooves with unapologetically adventurous improvisations that ride on the muscular bass ostinatos. Abdou complements her saxophone playing with flutes that connect with Colombian practice while Cellier is a kind of connective tissue, his hypnotic lines bridging folklore and avant-garde explorations. What sets the foursome apart is that the blend of the respective traditions of each musician finds a way into the end result, which reflects the Colombian folk sounds while also taking them in new directions. The music is wide open, shaped by the communicative joy fostered by the partnership. 

Line-up

Alejandra Charry – voice, guasa, maracas, gaita, bombo

Sakina Abdou – tenor saxophone, bombo, voice

Thibault Cellier – double bass

Moises Zamora Mezù – marimba de chonta, bombo, alegre, cununo, gaita, voice

Runtime: Thu, 29/10/2026 to Sun, 01/11/2026

Next date: ¡ Ya Voy !: Miraflores

• Date Saturday, 31/October/2026 20:00
• Venue A-Trane Jazzclub
• Address Bleibtreustraße 1, 10623 Berlin-Charlottenburg