Ashwaaq | Trumpet Taqasim

ElSaffar imagines a sonic space where melodies answer one another, transform, and reveal another way of inhabiting music: through listening, boldness, and nuance.An Iraqi-American multi-instrumentalist based in New York, ElSaffar has developed a singular body of work at the crossroads of Iraqi maqâm, contemporary jazz, and Western classical music. Syrian singer Khaled Al-Hafez joins him with his warm voice and an interpretive style that blends rigor and grace, weaving a fascinating moment of celebration in which poetic and musical traditions meet beyond cultural and disciplinary boundaries.