Rahim AlHaj’s Baghdad Ensemble

Iraqi oud virtuoso Rahim AlHaj returns to the Outpost Performance Space for a concert featuring new solo works to celebrate the release of his new CD entitled Home Again on Fast Horse Recordings (titled as such after his post-US-invasion-visit to his family in Baghdad); traditional and contemporary Middle Eastern & Arabic music, 9th century Andalusian compositions, and original music arranged for AlHaj’s 10-piece Baghdad Ensemble; and finally, a series of duets with very special guests. Rahim AlHaj began playing the oud (middle Eastern lute) at age nine. He studied under the renowned Munir Bashir, considered by many to be the greatest oud player ever, and Salim Abdul Kareem, at the Institute of Music in Baghdad, Iraq. He graduated in 1990 with a diploma in composition, and also holds a degree in Arabic Literature. In 1991, after the first Gulf War, AlHaj was forced to leave Iraq due to his activism against the Saddam Hussein regime and began his life in Jordan and Syria. He moved to the US in 2000 as a political refugee and has resided in Albuquerque ever since. Rahim AlHaj has performed hundreds of concerts all over the world, on tour with Munir Bashir, as well as solo and with his string quartet. His music combines traditional Iraqi maqams with contemporary styling and influence. His compositions are about the experience of exile from his homeland and of new beginnings in his adopted country. He currently has four CDs—When the Soul is Settled: Music of Iraq, on Smithsonian Folkways; Friendship: Oud and Sadaqa String Quartet, a unique Grammy nominated musical collaboration between East and West on Fast Horse Recordings; The Second Baghdad, (2002) and Iraqi Music in a Time of War, (2003) both on VoxLox Records; and finally the CD whose release is being celebrated tonight, Home Again, evocative original compositions portraying his trip to Iraq after 13 years in exile. A flamenco guitar/oud CD with Ottmar Liebert, Jon Gagan and Barrett Martin is coming soon. Rahim AlHaj’s Baghdad Ensemble is his latest project. He formed the group in 2007 and gathered the finest New Mexican musicians with the mission of performing classical and traditional Middle Eastern and Arabic music. The Baghdad Ensemble has been working to merge the best of Western and Arabic genres in a cross-cultural presentation which aims to widen its audiences’ musical perspectives. The ensemble comprises Juli Palladino, violin; Jason Parris, viola; Tom McVeety, cello; Beth Beaver, qanon; Jon Gagan, contrabass; Laurel Wyckoff, flute; Ed Pias, riq; Issa Malluf, tabla; and Zackery Kear, ney.

$20/$15 Members. Available in advance, by phone or in person, at the Outpost Performance Space (268-0044)