Rabih Abou-Khalil

Rabih Abou-Khalil(Arabic:ربيع أبو خليل, born August 17, 1957)is anoudplayer andcomposerborn in Lebanon, who combines elements ofArabic musicwithjazz,classical music, and other styles. He grew up inBeirutand moved toMunich, Germany, during theLebanese Civil Warin 1978.
Abou-Khalil studied theoudat theBeirut conservatorywith oudist Georges Farah. After moving to Germany, he studiedclassical fluteat theAcademy of MusicinMunichunder Walther Theurer.
In his compositions and live concerts, he combines elements ofArabic musicwithjazz, rock, or classical music, and has earned praise as "aworld musicianyears before the phrase became a label". — According to a review of his concert inThe Guardianof 2002, Abou-Khalil "makes the hot,staccatoMiddle Eastern flavour and the seamless grooves of jazz mingle, as if they were always meant to."
In a review of his 2007 albumSongs For Sad Women,the BBC wrote "the characteristic blend of jazz-inflected Arabic melody with subtle rhythms combines into a hypnotic whole, as ever with Abou-Khalil’s fluent oud playing in a central role."
Along withTunisianoudvirtuososAnouar BrahemandDhafer Youssef, he has helped establish the oud as an important instrument ofEthno jazzandworld fusion.
Among other musicians, Abou-Khalil has worked withARTE Quartett(saxophone quartet),Alexander Bălănescu(violin),Luciano Biondini(accordion),Milton Cardona(conga),Sonny Fortune(alto saxophone),Michel Godard(tuba andserpent),Joachim Kühn(piano, alto saxophone),Howard Levy(harmonica),Charlie Mariano(alto saxophone),Gabriele Mirabassi(clarinet),Glen Moore(bass),Mark Nauseef(percussion),Setrak Sarkissian(darabukka),Ramesh Shotham(Indian percussion),Steve Swallow(bass),Glen Velez(frame drum, percussion), orKenny Wheeler(flugelhorn).
His only album for the Munich-based labelECMwas calledNafas(1988). Since 1990, his albums have been published byEnja Records, Munich. ForAl-Jadida(1992), Abou-Khalil invited alto saxophonistSonny Fortune;Blue Camel(1992), featured alto saxophonistCharlie Marianoandflugelhornplayer Kenny Wheeler.Morton's Foot(2004) presentsLuciano Biondinion accordion andSardiniansinger Gavino Murgia.Journey to the Centre of an Egg(2005) features a trio of oud, piano (Joachim Kühn, who doubles onalto saxophone) and Jarrod Cagwin on drums.
NafasandTarabmake use of theney, theMiddle Easternend-blown flute.Arabian Waltzfeatures Abou-Khalil's compositions for string quartet (performed by theBalanescu Quartet), along with oud,Michel Godardontubaorserpent, and frame drums.
In 2008, Abou-Khalil released an album entitled "Em Português" ("In Portuguese"), where he mixesfadowith Arabic music with the participation of thefadistaRicardo Ribeiro.
In 1998, Rabih Abou-Khalil hosted the television seriesVisions of Music. This 13-part documentary series produced by EuroArts Entertainment set out to explore the blending of jazz with different music styles of the world (Caribbean salsa, Brazilian samba, Argentine tango, French musette, Spanish flamenco, Jewish klezmer, New Orleans R&B and Mississippi blues, as well as West African, South African, Indian, and Middle Eastern music) through historicalfootageand interviews with musicians by Abou-Khalil. The music of the TV-series was released on the albumVisions of Music - World Jazzby Enja Records.