- country:Sweden
- region:Middle East
- style(s):Arabic, Arabic Classical
- label:not signed
- type:Band
- instrumentation:instrumental, vocal, woodwind, guitar
- artist posted by:Evolving Traditions
Line up
- Allan Skrobe (guitar)
- Annika Jessen (clarinet)
- Erik Olevik (bass)
- Jafar Hasan Aboud (oud, vocals)
- Pär Moberg (saxophones)
- Tina Quartey (percussion)
- Ulrik Brohus (drums)
Links
Jafar Hasan Aboud is Iraq's perhaps most well known and respected composer, whose music moves freely between Classical Arabic Maqam music, Arabic folklore and Western influenced popular music. His songs are great hits to the Iraqi general public, and he has also worked in other Arab countries such as Dubai and Qatar. He is also a brilliant oud player.
Being forced to escape during the Iraqi war, Jafar ended up as a refugee in Sweden, living there in almost total anonymity, until Pär Moberg stumbled upon him, and was amazed by what he heard. A grant from the Swedish Arts council allowed Jafar to write and perform music together with the band World Mix Orhchestra. They have since also performed with Malmö Opera orchestra. In May 2013, it was possible for Jafar to return to Iraq, and bring with him the newly formed Mazguf Ensemble, consisting of some of Denmark's and Sweden's finest performers within world music, to Baghdad for a concert at the National Theatre, which was broadcasted on all major Iraqi TV channels. It was quite unique for a Western music group to dare to travel to Baghdad in the turmoil then starting to grow in Baghdad.
Jafar & the Mazguf Ensemble plan to continue playing together both in the Middle East and the West in the future.