FIRAS ZREIK New Journeys in Arabic Music
Date/Time
Date(s) - 04/20/2024
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Location
Roulette
Categories
Cost:
26-36 USD
Contact Person:
Robert Browning Associate
Email:
Website:
https://www.robertbrowningassociates.com/2024-firas-zreik--his-ensemble.html
Phone:
917-267-0363
Organization:
Robert Browning Associate
NYC.
Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 8:00pm
Roulette, 509 Atlantic Avenue at 3rd Avenue, Downtown Brooklyn
Tickets: $31 advance*; $36 at door; $26 Seniors, student w.ID – advance* and at door
(*+$2.50 processing fee per advance ticket) Box office: 917-267-0363
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmY8ThbGaF8
Info & Tickets: https://www.robertbrowningassociates.com/2024-firas-zreik–his-ensemble.html
“The Paco de Lucia of the Qanun” – Washington Report on Middle East Affairs
Master qanun (zither) player/composer Firas Zreik has been captivating audiences across the world as a leader and highly sought-after collaborator since 2013. Born in Palestine and based in New York, he is a sonic revolutionary who combines his deep understanding of the maqam (mode) tradition in the Levantine, North African and Mediterranean region with elements of modern global musical styles absorbed throughout his musical development. He views the maqam’s improvisation-driven legacy as a vessel for unbound creative expression across musical styles. Creating a fresh modern authentic sound with a dazzling technique, he has transformed the perception of the qanun. For this program, his repertoire will feature original compositions and arrangements. He will be joined by Gideon Forbes (sax, nay (flute), Ramiro Marziani (guitar), Bashar Farran (bass), and Alber Baseel (percussion).
Before coming to New York, Zreik received a full presidential scholarship (the school’s most prestigious award) to Berklee College of Music and graduated with Bachelor’s degrees in Performance and Jazz Composition. To date he has recorded and performed with international artists of the highest caliber, including Simon Shaheen, Bassam Saba, Amal Murkus, Amir ElSaffar, and Aynur Dogan. He has performed throughout the US, Europe and the Middle East at renowned venues and festivals, including WOMEX, Lincoln Center, the Smithsonian, the Savannah Music Festival, Boston Symphony Hall, Tunisia’s Carthage International Festival, Institut du Monde Arabe and La Bellevilloise in Paris, Palais de Congres in Belgium, and Teatro Mediterraneo in Italy.
In 2020, his “Lullaby for Nature” received praise from Makan Radio as Instrumental Piece of the Year, and in 2023 he released Salute, his first full-length recording of original music featuring his 8-piece band. Zreik was chosen as the sole musician for inclusion on the Arab America Foundation’s 30 Under 30 list in 2022. He credits his spirit of experimentation, in part, to the dedicated instructors who have guided his artistry, including Mahran Moreb, Simon Shaheen, Greg Hopkins, Manuel Kauffmann, Ed Tomassi, Fabrizio Cassol, Bob Pilkington, Eugene Frissen, Leo Blanco and Alain Mallett. A consummate educator himself, Zreik has taught at the Arabic Music Retreat in Massachusetts and Circle World Arts in Brooklyn, and has given workshops at NYU Abu Dhabi, Tufts and Berklee.