Gunesh Ensemble

A fusion group from Turkmenistan, the Gunesh Outfit was led by energetic virtuoso drummer Rishard Shafi. Fusing jointly jazz instrumentation with rock and roll, Middle-Eastern chants and musical instruments, and a Vietnamese vocalist, the group released their initial record, Gunesh, in 1980, accompanied by Looking at the planet earth in 1984. Both albums had been mixed for the 2000 re-release Rishard Shafi Presents Gunesh. That same season, Shafi released 45° Centigrade within a Darkness: Shafi Has with Gunesh, which transferred slightly from the cultural influences in the first two albums and was constructed of varied recordings by Shafi and assorted music artists from 1985 to 1990.