Marcel & Rami Khalifé

Revered oud player Marcel Khalifé reinvents his much-loved music with his son Rami and French jazz drummer Aymeric Westrich.

This is Khalifé as you’ve never seen him – stripped back from the large ensemble he usually performs with. Played on just oud, piano and drums, we hear his songs in a new way, as the heart of their melody and meaning are revealed anew. Inspired by contemporary poetry, Khalifé’s songs promote traditional Arabic music, bringing it into new contexts and continually finding a fresh relevance.

An exciting young composer, having followed his father into music, Rami Khalifé has performed internationally and been commissioned by a variety of ensembles. Sharing an experimental outlook, he has collaborated with Aymeric Westrich on his brother, Bachar Mar-Khalifé’s album Oil Slick, mixing traditional Arabic sounds with jazz and electronics.