Jazz: Luft and Duni Reach for the Moon
VICTORIA KINGHAM
Guitarist Rob Luft has been a regular visitor to Jazz Hastings, having appeared here with his own band and with other musicians celebrated for their originality: Byron Wallen, Corrie Dick, Dave O’Higgins. Luft is in constant demand: his guitar technique is constantly inventive, versatile and original, and he was rightly named ‘Instrumentalist of the Year’ in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards for 2025.
In 2017, his path crossed with that of the singer Elina Duni at the Montreux Jazz Festival, marking the inception of a unique project. They have since toured the world, releasing two critically acclaimed albums on ECM Records in a quartet formation with Fred Thomas (drums) and trumpeter Matthieu Michel. For those of you familiar with the ‘ECM sound’, expect a characteristic dreamy ambience, open chords, judicious reverb and a display of excellent musicianship. For this session, they’ll be promoting their new 2026 duo album, Reaching for the Moon, which has already attracted a number of very favourable previews. This performance here is one of only three in the UK; the tour runs through Europe from Italy through Austria and Duni’s adopted country, Switzerland, to Barcelona.
A stripped-back duo effort, the album revisits the essence of their initial meeting. Duni’s voice blends beautifully with Luft’s guitar lines – her singing is intense and intelligent, and her voice softly compelling. Several albums have been released under her own name, as a singer-songwriter with her own quartet. She has also a long-held interest in the folk music of Albania (where she was born) and there is one beautiful solo album, Partir, where she accompanies herself to folk songs that are effortlessly rendered in nine different languages. Don’t miss this performance – it’ll be something very special.
Elina Duni (vocals) and Rob Luft (guitar) Tuesday 5 May, EHSAA, The Stade, Hastings: 8.30 pm.
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