Boom.Diwan with guests Nduduzo Makhathini, Liany Mateo, and Elé Howell

Kuwaiti maritime and desert traditions meet the improvisational energy of jazz in this cross-continental presentation of new music.

Boom.Diwan presents new compositions weaving together Kuwaiti maritime and desert traditions with the improvisational energy of jazz, drawn from their forthcoming album, which is being recorded the week of the concert. Joining the ensemble are distinguished collaborators: South African pianist and Blue Note artist Nduduzo Makhathini, who previously appeared on Boom.Diwan’s debut EP Minarets; bassist Liany Mateo, featured on their acclaimed album Live in the Khaleej!; and drummer Elé Howell, who was most recently heard with Boom.Diwan at Lincoln Center for globalFEST. Together, these artists bring to life a sound that bridges tradition and innovation while charting new directions for jazz in the Khaleej.

Boom.Diwan is a pioneering ensemble celebrated for introducing Khaleeji Jazz into the jazz lexicon. Rooted in Kuwait’s maritime and desert traditions, the group takes its name from the Boom—a historic Kuwaiti ship once used for pearl diving and merchant trade—and the Diwan, the traditional gathering place where seafaring musicians came together to share stories and songs. Together, these symbols capture Boom.Diwan’s spirit of musical exploration, exchange, and collaboration.

Ghazi Al-Mulaifi

Dr. Ghazi Faisal Al-Mulaifi is an innovative bandleader, Grammy-nominated musician, and Professor of Music at NYU Abu Dhabi. A Venice Biennale artist and accomplished jazz guitarist, Al-Mulaifi earned his PhD in Music from New York University. In 2017, he founded Boom.Diwan, a pioneering ensemble recognized for introducing Khaleeji Jazz into the global jazz lexicon.

Boom.Diwan draws inspiration from the Boom—a traditional Kuwaiti ship once used for pearl diving and maritime trade—symbolizing exploration and movement. The Diwan refers to the traditional gathering spaces where Kuwaiti maritime musicians preserve and share their art, reflecting the ensemble’s commitment to dialogue, exchange, and innovation across musical cultures.

Al-Mulaifi’s ongoing work continues to foster cross-cultural collaboration and revitalize the musical traditions of the Arabian Gulf. In this project at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, Boom.Diwan is joined by acclaimed drummer Elé Howell, bassist Liany Mateo, and pianist Nduduzo Makhathini.

Nduduzo Makhathini

Dr. Nduduzo Makhathini is an improvisor, scholar, and musicologist at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) School of the Arts with a PhD in music. Makhathini is also a multi award winning artist and internationally acclaimed musician from Pietermariztburg in KwaZulu-Natal. As a bandleader, Makhathini holds 12 albums under his belt, and he features on many as a sideman and producer. He is currently signed to the prestigious Blue Note Records in the US and has a busy touring schedule that keeps him relevant in current jazz practices and discourses. Makhathini has collaborated with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Richard Bona, Hamilton de Holanda, (the late) Zim Ngqawana, Omagugu, Shabaka Hutchings, Black Coffee, Thandiswa Mazwai, Mbuso Khoza, and, most recently, the WDR Big Band, just to name a few of his favorite musicians that he has worked with. Makhathini has also performed at reputable festivals around the globe.

Currently, Makhathini is performing his recent offering, uNomkhubulwane (2024), out on Blue Note Records. uNomkhubulwane is understood to be a mythical rain Goddess who regulates fertility through the language of water. The album is underpinned by an understanding of mythical institutions of Nguni peoples of Southern Africa, their connection to the cosmos, and how that relates to ingoma.

Liany Mateo

Liany Mateo, a jazz bassist from Jersey City, NJ, has already studied and performed with some of the country’s top names in jazz. In high school, she studied under renowned bassist Ben Wolfe. Through her involvement with the New Jersey Performing Arts "Jazz for Teens" program, she has been able to work with vocalist Jazzmeia Horn, saxophonists Mark Gross and Wayne Escoffery, and drummer Alvester Garnett. Liany has received numerous honors as an aspiring jazz musician. In 2016, she had the honor of performing with an all-star band that included drummer Jerome Jennings and pianist Benito Gonzalez in Newark, NJ, Sarah Vaughan’s hometown, during the U.S. Postal Service’s ceremony unveiling the Sarah Vaughan Commemorative Stamp. Notably, in 2015, she received the Governor of New Jersey’s Award in Arts Education, and was awarded the first place title in Hudson County, New Jersey’s Solo Strings Competition. Liany is currently studying with the legendary bassist Rodney Whitaker at Michigan State University, where she is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Jazz Studies.

Elé Salif Howell

Born and raised in the Bay Area of Northern California, Elé Salif Howell officially began his drumming career at the tender age of two, with the gifting of his first drum set. Elé studied piano and composition with Art Khu, and played in after school Oaktown Jazz Workshops. He continued his music studies at NYU, where he met drum master Lenny White, forming a close apprenticeship that was decidedly old school. Elé credits his inspiration and influence to a variety of teachers, including his father, Richard Howell, with whom he has recorded several albums (notably with Richard Howell and Sudden Changes), as well as Babatunde Lea, E.W. Wainwright, Khalil Shaheed, Larry Van, James Henry, Jack Dorsey, Sly Randolph, and Angela Wellman. At six years old, Elé first met Chief Adjuah (FKA Christian Scott) at Yoshi's in Oakland, CA, where he sat in with the band.

Today, Elé is on tour with Chief Adjuah, with upcoming shows across the world. The Coltrane name has always been a part of Elé’s musical journey, and that remains relevant today, as he joins the band of Ravi Coltrane, son of jazz legend and saxophonist John Coltrane. “He’s a fabulous musician,” Coltrane says. “Just an excellent drummer who plays with a lot of heart and intensity. I love the way he rides the cymbal and plays the bass drum. You can hear a lot of the great modern drummers influencing him, and it’s important for older players to be around young players who have their own unique insights and takes on music.”

As a young drummer, Elé continues to write and compose, creating with inspirations from his immersive cultural experiences, travels, and people whom he meets along the way. Some notable artists that he has worked with include Stanley Clarke, John Scofield, Gill Goldstein, Brandee Younger, David Gilmore, Elena Pinderhughes, Weedie Braimah, Mike Rodriguez, Jeff Chambers, Alex Sipiagan, and more. Elé endorses Istanbul Agop Cymbals, Vic Firth, and Brooks Drum Company.