Gunesh

The Profile

Gunesh is a Turkmen ensemble centered on drummer Rishad Shafi. Born as a vocal group with musicians from state radio and television, it later added younger players and electric instruments. The group released a self-titled album (1980) and Looking At The Earth (Вижу Землю, 1984) and performed across the Soviet sphere, Central Asia and beyond.

Instrumentation blends Central Asian instruments (dutar, sitar), percussion, electric guitar, fretless bass, electric piano, synthesizers, brass, sax and violin. The band's sound mixes traditional Turkmen and regional music with progressive jazz-rock arrangements.

Gunesh is a Turkmen ensemble centered on drummer Rishad Shafi that mixes traditional Central Asian instruments with electric jazz-rock/progressive arrangements. Reviews praise its passionate percussion, diverse instrumentation, and consistent tension across its albums. Recommended for listeners of ethnic fusion and progressive jazz-rock.