Swiss-Egyptian singer and oud player Wael Sami Elkholy and Lucerne-based pianist and singer Esther Bächlin have been performing together as Bächlin & Elkholy since 2021. Their collaboration began with the idea of bringing two very different string instruments and musical worlds into a shared sonic space. Jazz-influenced and meditative piano textures merge with the sound of the oud and Arabic vocals. What started as improvisation gradually evolved into original multicultural compositions. Their music moves freely between genres of lyrical jazz and global sounds and might be well defined as: "poetic world jazz".

The music of Bächlin & Elkholy is dynamic and interactive, yet also lyrical and contemplative. Slow tempos and hypnotic ostinatos carry listeners toward distant sonic horizons, while fiery unison passages and intense dialogues between instruments and voices bring them back into the present moment. A journey through time and space that expands and contracts, creating a compelling synergy between different musical traditions and sound worlds!

Wael Elkholy’s evocative voice blends seamlessly with the warm resonance of the oud. Rich piano soundscapes, two-part vocal passages, and the creative use of electronic effects complete the duo’s colourful and refined arrangements. Their instrumental combination is almost unique.

Their debut album, BeLonging, was released in April 2023 on their independent label Be Sphinx / Inspiringmusic and was followed by an extensive concert tour across Switzerland.

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Released in 2026, our second album, Golden Fields, was created in collaboration with percussionist Samuel Baur and co-produced with SRF 2 Kultur. The album combines lyrical soundscapes, improvisational freedom, and musical encounters that bridge cultures, traditions, and musical worlds.

“With melodic grace, sonic sophistication, and remarkable rhythmic agility, pianist and singer Esther Bächlin and singer and oud player Wael Sami Elkholy move effortlessly between East and West in their richly layered music. Despite the distinct musical traditions they draw from, the intercultural dialogue between Bächlin and Elkholy unfolds with striking ease. A key element of this natural connection is the way both artists seamlessly integrate their voices into the rich musical fabric.”

Tom Gsteiger, Preview of the ffff Festival Wädenswil, November 2024

“In one of the final pieces of the set, Wael Sami Elkholy improvised on the oud, revealing the full range of his voice — from high, almost plaintive sounds to deeply resonant fragments of Arabic text. Esther Bächlin picked up the thread with rhythmic clarity, guiding the occasionally dissonant sounds back towards each other until they merged once again. What remained was a sense of vastness, a profound calm, and the rare feeling of being able to lose oneself completely in the music.”

Priska Meyer, Michelsämter, 30 May 2024

“The duo displayed an extraordinary musical connection. Their melancholic and dreamlike melodies touched the audience deeply, while their unique style and fusion of jazz and oriental sounds captivated throughout the evening. The albumBeLonging is a remarkable example of creative collaboration and undoubtedly deserves to be heard by music lovers around the world.”

Nadia Tattersall, Kulturhaus Maihof Website, 2023

“What a beautiful concert last night at KIG Benny’s! Exciting, relaxing, touching, delicate, refined, poetic, and powerful.”

Audience feedback, Lucerne, 17 May 2024

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