Moving between Morocco, France, Ghana, and the United States, composer Ismail Sentissi has navigated the many paths of world music, exploring a broad spectrum of rhythms. From metal to afrobeat, with chaabi along the way, he ultimately found his voice in a jazz style that truly reflects who he is. Rooted in personal experience, his repertoire breaks away from convention and draws directly from the journey that shaped it. Ismail Sentissi / Ph. Ava du Parc ‹ › «Todo es presente» is the second album by Ismail Sentissi, further cementing his singular musical identity through a work that unfolds as a journey across continents. Drawing on the full breadth of his influences, the self-taught pianist and composer, based in Paris, seamlessly blends rhythms and sounds not usually associated with traditional jazz. The result is an original and cohesive musical language. «I'm not sure it's a fixed label. I make instrumental music; I haven't studied this genre or acquired its codes, but I bring instruments together to give power to a melody that, at its core, is found on the guitar and developed on the piano», confides the Casablanca native and graduate of Ecole des Ponts ParisTech. Having learned to play pieces he loved, Ismail Sentissi began his musical journey alongside his scientific studies and professional careeR, first in banking, then in agribusiness. In 2021, the trained engineer took a decisive step into music, marking what he describes as a true baptism by fire. His debut album, «Genoma», laid the foundations for this creative experimentation, which eventually brought him to the Moroccan stage of Jazzablanca in 2023. On January 23, 2026, the musician presented «Todo es presente» in a launch concert at Sunside Paris. Speaking to Yabiladi, he expressed satisfaction with the early feedback, which validates his unconventional approach to jazz, this time in a format he describes as «more concentrated and intensive». Ismail Sentissi at Jazzablanca 2023 / Ph. Sife El Amine A Jazz in All Colors «It was our first performance, and it was beautiful, with a full house. Some tracks were also broadcast, notably on TSF Jazz, a reference radio station that included two of them in its playlist», he says proudly. From performing in Casablanca's underground metal scene to immersing himself in afrobeat during three years of professional life in Ghana, exploring transatlantic rhythms in Washington, and reconnecting with the familial spirit of Moroccan chaabi, Ismail Sentissi has shaped a musical universe rooted in movement and cross-pollination. In «Todo es presente», he brings together piano, drums, double bass, saxophone, trumpet, and trombone, alongside his fellow musicians Maurizio Congiu, Cédrick Bec, Maxime Berton, Roman Reidid, and Luca Spiler. Keen to break down rhythmic boundaries, he deliberately avoids assigning a single rhythmic role to any one instrument. Ismail Sentissi / Ph. Ava du Parc «Many of the pieces I play on the piano were first found on the guitar. With two hands on the piano, you can play both melody and accompaniment without being fixed. On the guitar, I often used a looper to layer sounds, but the piano gave them a new life», he explains. «On the guitar, I play other compositions that reflect my inspirations from Moroccan, Oriental, and African music, with melancholic melodies carried by a dancing rhythm. Among the pieces closest to my heart, 'Fela' is inspired by Nigerian singer Fela Kuti». In many ways, these compositions tell the story of an academic and professional journey shaped by mobility, with musical exploration as a constant thread. Sentissi notes that his stay in Ghana was decisive in affirming his affinity for West African music. Ph. Ava du Parc «Much of the music I listened to there resonated deeply with me. I sensed a rhythmic continuity from Morocco to West Africa and beyond. It gave me material to reflect on in my compositions, listening not only to African music, but also to Latin American music, afrobeat, rumba, the great classics, and Buena Vista Social Club». At the Crossroads of Music and Professional Life For Ismail Sentissi, travel and musical experimentation have also led to formative encounters. «You inevitably absorb influences and discover rhythms more intimately, things you wouldn't encounter by staying in one place», he tells Yabiladi. Ph. Ava du Parc Alongside his musical career, he continues to pursue his professional path. Today, he describes himself as practicing two «very different» professions, which nonetheless take him to the same corners of the world. «I still work for a fund that finances agribusinesses in Africa, and I find fulfillment there just as I do in music», he explains, stressing that «the question of choosing one over the other does not arise». Balancing concert dates, professional commitments, and family life, Ismail Sentissi also hopes to pass on his artistic sensitivity to his two young children, continuing a journey shaped by rhythm, movement, and curiosity.
