Rabih Abou-Khalil

Rabih Abou-Khalil
Cactus of Knowledge concert in Bonn, Germany, with Luciano Biondini
Background information
Born (1957-08-17) August 17, 1957
Origin Beirut, Lebanon
Genres Ethno jazz, world fusion
Occupation(s) Musician, composer, bandleader
Instruments Oud, flute
Years active 1980–present
Labels Enja Records

Rabih Abou-Khalil (Arabic: ربيع أبو خليل‎, born August 17, 1957 in Lebanon)[1] is an oud player and composer. He is known for fusing traditional Arab music with jazz, European classical music, and other styles.

Life

Rabih Abou-Khalil grew up in Beirut and moved to Munich, Germany during the civil war in 1978.[2] He lives part-time in Munich and part-time in the South of France with his wife.

Music

Abou-Khalil studied the oud at the Beirut conservatory with oudist Georges Farah. After moving to Germany, he studied classical flute at the Academy of Music in Munich under Walther Theurer.

He has often blended traditional Arab music with jazz, rock and classical music, and has earned praise such as "a world musician years before the phrase became a label—makes the hot, staccato Middle Eastern flavour and the seamless grooves of jazz mingle as if they were always meant to."[3] Together with Anouar Brahem he has helped highlight the oud as a vehicle of eclectic "world jazz". One critic likened Abou-Khalil's oud playing style to jazz guitar, writing: "Abou-Khalil spins more oud notes in 10 seconds than most jazz guitarists do in their short commercial lifespans".[4]

Albums

In his first CD release for the ECM company wasNafas (1988). Al-Jadida (1992) featured alto saxophonist Sonny Fortune; Blue Camel (1992), featured alto saxophonist Charlie Mariano and flugelhorn player Kenny Wheeler.

Nafas and Tarab make use of the ney, the Turkish end-blown flute. 1995's Arabian Waltz featured Abou-Khalil's compositions for string quartet (performed by the Balanescu Quartet), along with oud, tuba (or serpent), and frame drums.

Morton's Foot (2004) brings in Luciano Biondini on accordion and Sardinian singer Gavino Murgia.

Journey to the Centre of an Egg (2005) features a trio of oud, piano (Joachim Kühn, who doubles on alto saxophone) and drums.

In 2008, Abou-Khalil released an album entitled "Em Português" ("In Portuguese"), where he mixes Fado with Arabic music, with the participation of the fadista Ricardo Ribeiro.

Visions of Music

Rabih Abou-Khalil hosted the television series Visions of Music. This 13-part documentary series produced by EuroArts Entertainment set out to explore the blending of jazz with traditional music (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 historical footage and interviews of musicians (by Abou-Khalil). The music of the TV-series was released on the album Visions of Music - World Jazz by Enja Records in 1998.

Collaborators

Discography

Compilations

  • Selection (Enja Records, 2009)

As guest musician

  • Chris Karrer: Dervish Kish (Schneeball/Indigo, 1990/91)
  • Michael Riessler: Heloise (Wergo, 1992)
  • Charlie Mariano & Friends: Seventy (veraBra records, 1993)
  • Glen Moore: Nude Bass Ascending (Intuition, 1996/97)
  • Ramesh Shotam: Madras Special (Permission Music, 2002)

Other

  • Jakob Wertheim & Rabih Abou-Khalil: KopfKino (cassette, Ohrbuch-Verlag, 1988)
  • The Jazz Club Highlights (DVD, TDK JAZZ CLUB, 1990)
  • Rabih Abou-Khalil presents Visions of Music - World Jazz (accompanying TV series, Enja Records, 1999)

References

  1. ↑ Kennedy, Gary W. (2002). "Abou-Khalil, Rabih". In Barry Kernfeld. The new Grove dictionary of jazz (2nd ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries Inc. p. 6. ISBN 1561592846.
  2. ↑ "Rabih Abou-Khalil | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
  3. ↑ The Guardian
  4. ↑ Orlando Weekly
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