★★★★★”defying the laws of physics and floating skywards” – Songlines Magazine

‘one of the best Sublime Frequencies releases I’ve heard” – Dave Segal

”deeply thrilling and transformative” – Magnet Magazine

The Handover is as much a ritual as it is an ensemble. The trio, consisting of Aly Eissa (oud, Egypt), Ayman Asfour (violin, Egypt), and Jonas Cambien (vintage organ/synth, Belgium/Norway), is blessed with a near-telepathic musical sensitivity that renders each live performance a singular, nuanced experience, grooving deeply despite the absence of percussion.

Inspired by the hypnotic, trance-inducing music of Egypt’s Nile Delta, fueled by kraut-like riffs and the intensity of ’60s avant-garde jazz, and channelled through roguish improvisation, The Handover’s sound is veritable psychedelia. It is at once futuristic and primordial, yet, with the utter urgency of its testament, it demands lucidity.

One long musical voyage that swells and builds without break; three musicians shaping an acoustic world with only their instruments. A set composition that invites space for play, shifting slightly each time with the improvisational nuances of the musicians. This is what one can expect from a Handover show.

Since its beginnings, The Handover has gained a strong live reputation with performances at Rewire Festival in The Hague, Counterflows Festival in Glasgow, BRDCST Festival in Brussels, Jazzfest Berlin, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Motvind Festival, Oslo World Festival, and clubs across Europe, the UK, and Egypt. In 2025, The Handover was selected for an official showcase at WOMEX. Their self-titled debut (2025) was released on Sublime Frequencies to critical acclaim. A sophomore album, New Old Medicine/منه فيه, is set for a 2026 release, continuing The Handover’s collusion with Sublime Frequencies. Like its predecessor, this album cements the trio’s sound as something exceptionally rare, yet undeniably rooted.

”ferocious and forceful” – the Wire

”A masterful, timeless recording.” – Ley Lines

WATCH ON YOUTUBE The Handover – Live in Alexandria

50 best albums of 2024 in El Pais

20 best folk albums of 2024 in Treblezine

Best Albums 2024 | Kalporz Awards

2024 Rewind: Contributors’ Charts – The Wire

Best Of 2024: Jazz/Improv – Magnet Magazine