Soolmaan, a sextet led by Belgian oud player and composer Tristan Driessens, has released “Prayer for Nature,” the first single from their forthcoming album Kashgul, set for release on the 24th of January via Zephyrus Records. The track blends elements of Ottoman makam, Indian raga, and jazz-inspired modal music.

The ensemble includes Tristan Driessens on oud, Christos Barbas on ney flutes and piano, Nathan Daems on tenor saxophone and ney, Annemie Osborne on cello, Andrea Piccioni on tamburello and frame drums, and Levent Yildirim on percussion. Their music combines Eastern and Western traditional and classical influences, with improvisation at its core.

Created during Driessens’ residency at the Concertgebouw in Bruges, Kashgul features original compositions alongside reworkings of pieces by Ravi Shankar, Amjad Ali Khan, and Art Pepper. “Prayer for Nature” serves as an ideal introduction to the album’s exploration of both traditional and contemporary approaches to modal music.

Discover more about “Prayer for Nature” and stream the single HERE