Ibrahim Maalouf and the Trumpets of Michel-Ange
Lebanese-French trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf, born in Beirut, is probably the most popular jazz musician on the French scene today. He has played with Sting, Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Miller, Salif Keita, Jon Batiste, most recently recording a Grammy-nominated album with Angélique Kidjo. He returns to Müpa Budapest for the first time since 2013, this time with a brand new nine-piece project featuring four other trumpeters. The ecstatic tarab music of Trumpets of Michel-Ange blurs the boundaries between ancient Arabic traditions and avant-garde trance music.
Ibrahim Maalouf's father was also a musician, a master of the Arab trumpet, but his son has far surpassed him. He emerged in the second half of the 2000s with his blend of fusion and Arab jazz with some electronics, and made his first major breakthrough with his 2013 album Illusions, which was also the first time we were able to see and hear him at Müpa Budapest. From there, however, his career has only taken him higher, achieving great success as a film composer, paying homage to his Arab musical roots (his 2015 album Kalthoum paid tribute to Egyptian singing great Umm Kalthoum) and becoming a symbol of inter-cultural dialogue in France, filling the biggest concert venues. His 2020 album 40 Melodies already features guest appearances from superstars such as Sting, Kronos Quartet and Trilok Gurtu. The highly active trumpeter is starting a whole new chapter in his musical life with his major new project, Trumpets of Michel-Ange. Built on a rhythmic foundation and the essential and irreplaceable stability of the pulse, this odyssey through the meanderings of tarab music once again blurs the lines between folklore and modernity, and is altogether refined, sophisticated and enjoyable for the widest possible audience.
trumpet, piano: Ibrahim Maalouf
guitar: François Delporte
saxophone: Mihai Pirvan
trumpet: Yvan Djaouti
trumpet: Manel Girard
guitar, bass guitar: Mohamed Derouich
drums: Julien Tekeyan
trumpet: Yacha Berdah
trumpet: Nizar Ali
Presented by: Müpa Budapest
