The flying fingers of Xinjiang’s Dr. Akbar
Musicians from the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in west China are steadily carving out a reputation in Beijing as musicians who push the boundaries of folk music. One such musician is guitarist Akbar Abliz. I first saw Akbar play years ago and was amazed at how relaxed he was while his hands raced at lightspeed across the fretboard.

"When I was 16, I had some relatives go to the Atlanta Olympics, and they brought back a guitar for me. I’ve been playing ever since," reveals the Urumuqi native and founding member of Panjir and The Tribesmen. Studying up to 10 hours a day for two years, Akbar emerged as one of the brightest young talents from the musically rich region.

"Xinjiang has a very long musical history," says Akbar. "Many musicians are involved in traditional orchestras or bands, playing minority songs, which are very popular." Panjir band mate David Mitchell confirms that the province’s musical reputation is well-deserved. "Music in Xinjiang is a cultural thing, like football is in Brazil. People are surrounded by folk music, and it seems everyone-musician or not-can pick up a guitar and play." It also instills a healthy competitive streak in its musicians. "On my first visit to Beijing I played with a guitarist who I was amazed by. So I went home, practiced for a month, then came back and outdid him," Akbar says with a smile, as his fingers tap out a chord progression on the table.

Abliz moved to the capital in 2004 after finishing a degree in International Law, which landed him with his stage name "Dr. Akbar." His first band, The Tribesmen, made a name for themselves as a band that fills dancefloors with their flamenco and Uyghur rhythms.

The band Panjir came about to explore the combination of jazz, improvisation and traditional Uyghur music. They have played at the Star Live and appeared regularly at the Stone Boat and Jiangjinjiu Bar. "Panjir," Akbar says, "helps us to explore the edges of Uyghur music and bring in other influences as well, which is fun for us, and for the audience too."

Dan Stephenson