The Dwarfs of East Agouza was born during 2012, when the three members were living in the same apartment building in Cairo’s Agouza district. The trio’s instrumental improvisation-based explorations are propelled by Maurice Louca’s North African percussion loops and shimmering keys, Sam Shalabi’s West African tinged free jazz guitar and grounded by Alan Bishop’s driving Krautrock-style acoustic bass. Following many late night jam sessions, the band recorded hours of material and released their double-album Bes via Nawa Recordings in 2016. Named after the Ancient Egyptian dwarf deity who was worshiped as the defender of all good things and as enemy of all that is bad, Bes captures the trio on a hypnotic yet unpredictable journey.