Toufic Farroukh returns to Beirut, bearing memories and jazz

BEIRUT — Jazz history is full of tales. One involves the recording sessions for Miles Davis’ storied album “Kind of Blue.” As the story goes, most of the band members arrived at the studio in March 1959 not knowing what they’d be playing.Rather than completed scores, Davis presented the sextet with sketches of each tune’s scales and melodies, frequently no more than a page long. Davis wanted to encourage spontaneity in the improv. He wanted his players to swing.This anecdote came to mind during Toufic Farroukh’s triumphant return to Beirut on Feb. 5, 2026. As the saxophonist and composer led his sextet through its one-night performance at Metro al-Madina, these poised professionals clearly had a studied familiarity with the music.Toufic Farroukh and Juliette Renard during their concert at Metro al-Madina.
(Credit: Davina Maria, courtesy...