Press Kit
Short Bio
Ahmed Warshanna is a Baltimore-based guitarist, composer, and bandleader known for his vivid, impressionistic approach to modern jazz. He leads the genre-defying sextet Ishta! and also performs with his trio, creating immersive performances that blend deep jazz tradition with cinematic, exploratory sound. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Jazz Guitar at the Peabody Conservatory.
Long BIo
Ahmed Warshanna is a Baltimore-based guitarist, composer, and bandleader whose music blends modern jazz with vivid, impressionistic storytelling. He leads the genre-defying sextet Ishta! and also performs regularly with his trio, presenting original compositions that evoke place, color, and emotional landscapes through sound. Described by The Sentinel’s Travis Rogers Jr. as arriving “like a thunderbolt,” Ahmed’s performances are known for their intensity, lyricism, and sense of discovery.
Rooted in jazz tradition yet driven by imagination, Ahmed approaches composition like an impressionist painter, crafting music that invites listeners into cinematic, ever-shifting sonic worlds. Each performance is shaped by the chemistry of the ensemble and the energy of the room, making every concert a singular, unrepeatable experience. Whether leading Ishta!’s expansive, layered sound or the more intimate setting of his trio, Ahmed’s work centers on storytelling, spontaneity, and emotional depth.
Ahmed is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Jazz Guitar at the Peabody Conservatory, studying with Professor Marvin Sewell, where he continues to refine his voice as a performer, composer, and bandleader.
Beyond the stage, Ahmed is the founder and curator of The Backwater Sessions in Ellicott City, a weekly music series that has become a cornerstone of Baltimore’s jazz and improvisational music scene. What began as an intimate gathering has grown into a vibrant platform for collaboration, showcasing a wide range of artists and fostering creative exchange across genres and communities.
Ahmed has shared the stage with artists including Brandon Woody, Allison Miller, Dave Ballou, Clarence Ward III, Ted Baker, Ephraim Dorsey, Obasi Akoto, Elijah Jamal Balbed, Jo Palmer, Justin Mendez, and Ryan Hanseler. Through his music and curatorial work, he continues to build bridges between tradition and innovation, contributing a bold and personal voice to the evolving language of jazz.
Social Media Links
Current Project
Introducing… Ahmed Warshanna (release set for 2026)
Press Quotes
“The compositions were richly textured; melodically, rhythmically, and harmonically unconventional, densely orchestrated, and created a powerful emotional impact.” - Baltimore Jazz Alliance
“Warshanna creates a unique style blending jazz with music from his Egyptian roots, as well as Afro-Cuban, bebop, post-bop, hip-hop, avant-garde, rock, Americana, blues, and more.” - Baltimore Jazz Alliance
“This is music that creates a unique experience in sound, venturing beyond the familiar into the terrain of intellect, emotion, and imagination.” - Baltimore Jazz Alliance
“Ahmed Warshanna splashes onto the scene like a thunderbolt with his debut album Ishta. To call it fascinating is to ignore the warmth of its depth; to call it emotional is to say too little of its intellectual prowess. It is a remarkable work which combines western Jazz and elements of Egyptian rhythms and motifs…The blending of the styles is extraordinary…Ahmed plays with such a clean and precise sound, the melody takes centerstage in such beautiful ways. With only five tracks on the album, the music is wondrously expounded and explored over the course of 43 splendid minutes…Out of the depths of his grief, Ahmed Warshanna a work of beauty and wonder. The album deserves rapt attention and the artist bears close watching.” — Travis Rogers Jr., The Sentinel
Music (from Introducing…Ahmed Warshanna)
Video
A live performance of Ahmed’s take on The Beatles’ “Blackbird” has reached over 376,000 viewers online, introducing the project to a global audience.
PHOTOS
Highlights
Performer, Walters Art Museum (Soulful Creatures: Animal Mummies in Ancient Egypt Exhibit)
Performer, Evergreen Museum & Library (Johns Hopkins University)
Endorsed Artist, JHS Pedals
Featured Artist, Baltimore Jazz Alliance
Master of Music candidate, Peabody Conservatory (Johns Hopkins University)
Ahmed Warshanna’s Ishta!’s Beatles series has reached 500,000+ viewers online
Recipient, UMBC Music Achievement Award
Contact
ahmedwarshanna@gmail.com / 410-428-0939