The Bridge of Eight Paths: Muharrem Aslan, Alister Spence duo

Muharrem and Alister have known each other since first meeting at UNSW over a decade ago. In early 2025, they began collaborating more closely, exploring ways to bring together Anatolian bağlama music—with its evocative quarter-tone language—and jazz and free improvisation on the piano, an instrument defined by equal temperament. Over the course of the year, they composed eight original instrumental works and began to uncover a shared musical language that extends the traditions and practices of both instruments. This performance marks their debut as a duo. Deeply engaged in the creative process, they hope audiences will find the result both captivating and exciting.