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Photo by Blerta Kambo
Elina Duni is a singer originally from Albania; her trademark is a contamination of jazz, Balkan, and Mediterranean music. Since 2017, she has collaborated with renowned British guitarist Rob Luft; their first duo work, “Lost Ships”, was released by ECM Records in November 2020. Their latest album, “A Time To Remember”, was also released by ECM in summer 2023. At the Verdict, they were joined by capable and versatile drummer Tristan Banks, who also runs the popular jazz venue.
The full house at the Verdict projected a positively vibrant atmosphere, even before the start of the show. The duo started their set with a ballad called “I am reaching for the moon” by Ella Fitzgerald. The introductory guitar riff, reminiscent of Weather Report’s tune “Elegant People”, greatly showcased Luft’s warm guitar sound, complementing Elina’s round and precise voice; the occasional intentional breathiness was used to lured the audience even further into the ever pleasing cocoon of sound.
The second song was an Italian song from Puglia called “Bella ci dormi”, again supported by the deep and magical balance of sounds. The atmosphere was sweeter, softer, and more sombre. Elina showcased great stage presence and Rob, with his guitar, took her voice and made it fly. Elina’s vocal improvisation was technically very advanced but at the same time very expressive and delicate, always with something to tell.
In the jazz standard “I will be seeing you”, third song of the set, the guitar created a beautiful texture of sound, leaving the space for Elina’s melismatic interpretation and a delicate, original, and precise improvisation. Rob’s guitar improv was very delicate, crafted with incredible technical skill. As the song progressed, the seamless dialogue between Elina and Rob made the audience believe that they were listening to a single instrument.
The number that followed was “The Leili Lullaby”, an old Iranian lullaby in which Elina doubled on the frame drum. It evoked in me the image of a black sky full of stars, the feeling of a Middle Eastern night. It was captivating, magical, and deeply lyrical. “Black Trombone” (French Song), another jazz standard, featured a very beautiful improvisation by Elina, where she showcased her confident and remarkable vocal range along with a great sense of rhythm. Elina’s scenic presence was impressive; with her gestures, she managed to speak to the audience and tell the story of the song she was singing.
Elina then told us another story, one about the Covid pandemic. “A time to remember”, by Elina, is a soft and delicate ballad, with Rob Luft’s unmistakeable style now starting to feel familiar in the guitar patterns. This song brought the audience to see other places, and it reminded me of Polynesian music. ‘Couleur Cafe’ by Serge Gainsbourg, brought us to the world of samba, in which Elina and Rob sang together very sweetly. The audience was treated to a subtle and fantastically performed quote of Hermeto Pascoal’s São Jorge, with Elina using her voice in a rhythmical and until then unusual way.
Another surprise was seeing Tristan Banks join Elina and Rob in the second set. They continued their narration of far places with the song “Vajze e Valeve”- The Girl of The Waves, from Albania (Ionian Coast). The guitar solo was superb, further enriched by the unusual time signature of 6\4. The journey through the Balkan world continued with the song “Bukuroshe”. This song was about how beauty can inspire us; the confident Elina gave us a demonstration of that with a superb improvisation, which reminded me of some North African and Mediterranean influences of mine such as Moroccan singer Oum and Lebanese trumpeter Ibrahim Malouf.
The journey went back to anglophone shores, with the jazz standard “The Gentle rain” masterfully arranged and again accompanied by a remarkable improv by Elina showing an enviable range and stage presence. Rob’s solo on the guitar was remarkable and original too. The song “Brighton” by Elina, in French (from the Lost Ships Album), was introduced by a fun anecdote: Elina told us that the song was inspired by how cold she felt when she came to visit Brighton, a statement that, as a Brighton resident, I can perfectly relate to for about nine months in a year. This song had an “impressionistic” vision with a beautiful melody, airy like Brighton’s wind. Tristan supported this song very well, on drums together with Elina playing synth bass on a keyboard. It was a very delicate song, with a magical, dreamy atmosphere.
We were taken on another journey to Albania, this time through the song “E Vogel”, built around a repeated ostinato. The guitar improvisation was very rhythmical and spacious, dialoguing with both the drums and the synth keeping the ostinato. Rob experimented with different timbres on the guitar, demonstrating yet again his command 0f fresh and original guitar playing. The whole song was very beautifully arranged and delicate, as was the last song of the show: “I am fool to want you” by Frank Sinatra.
Here, Elina’s low vocal range was magnificent. The guitar seemed like a harp, with lots of harmonics. Elina’s vocals and showmanship gave the vibe of a true diva, in the style of Ella Fitzgerald.
This last song motivated me to listen more to their albums, and go see them live soon, as this was one of the best concerts I have seen over the last few months. The atmosphere was magical on stage, and the emotional connection with the audience was unmissable. Not least, it was impressive to witness Elina’s effortless command of so many languages, from French to Italian to English to Albanian. Elina and Rob’s stage presence was very beautiful, as was the maturity of their interplay. The arrangements and the interpretations were the perfect motivation for any musicians looking for ways to leave a mark as a small ensemble. Elina and Rob deserve all kinds of success, as they managed to combine their amazing technique with the ability to engage audiences and tell a story through their music. Check their websites for gigs and future releases!
Last modified: April 10, 2025
