My chance encounter with Sadriddin occurred in a local coffee shop in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. What started as an inquisitive chat between tables ended with an invitation to join him and a musician friend for a jam session in his living room. After three or four songs, he suggested that, later that night, I attend a local wedding reception at which he was performing.

Exploring Uzbekistan is like leafing through the pages of an Eastern fairytale. During your journey you come across ancient fortresses, emirs’ palaces, tall minarets, noisy bazaars, fragrant cuisine and myriads of legends. The ancient cities of Samarkand, Khiva and Bukhara are popular must-see destinations for travellers coming to Uzbekistan, however, beyond some of the more…