Ibrahim Maalouf, a revelation

07.12.2007

Wednesday evening at the New Morning Club in Paris, Ibrahim Maalouf, Lebanese composer & trumpet player, gave a magnificent jazz concert tinted with Lebanese folk melodies. Playing his quarter-tone trumpet, unique en son genre, and accompanied by extraordinary musicians, notably a phenomenal percussionist, the like I have never seen in my life before (also Lebanese I guess for his family name is Khalifé), Ibrahim Maalouf so playing his quarter-tone trumpet, mixing jazz, funk and oriental rhythms and melodies, provided us, mortal listeners, with a smorgasbord for the soul. The club was packed, people were jubilant. I’m not exaggerating if I tell you that… I prayed.

This concert was an introduction to Ibrahim’s first CD, recently released, Diasporas – an original mélange of genre and tempo that reflect Ibrahim’s own life: Born in Lebanon in 1980, Ibrahim grew up in France. Son of Nada Maalouf, pianist, and Nassim Maalouf, trumpeter and inventor of the unique quarter-tone wind instrument. Grandson of Rushdi Maalouf, journalist, poet and musicologist. Nephew of Amin Maalouf, skip the introduction ;-)). Ibrahim studied classical music in Paris and won several awards and regional competitions. Though he excelled in playing Vivaldi, Purcell, Albinoni and Bach… he did not limit his repertoire to classical music. Self-taught in jazz, he soon became a great contributor to the Jazz’Orientale colour.

Ibrahim Maalouf is also a congenial and funny guy. He set the tone for a relaxed musical evening with an ambiance décontractée the moment he came onstage. He said he was going to play again in Paris on January 22, 2008. If you are around, don’t miss the experience of Ibrahim Maalouf’s transcendental tunes.

Visit Ibrahim Maalouf's website : http://www.ibrahimmaalouf.com/
It's funny, crazy and a real delight.