MUSIC
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2019
8:00 PM

Hamid Al-Saadi & Safaafir: Journey to the Heart of the Iraqi Maqam
Roulette
509 Atlantic Avenue (entrance on 3rd Avenue), Boerum Hill, Brooklyn

$30
https://roulette.org/event/rba-hamid-al-saadi-with-safaafir-journey-to-the-heart-of-the-iraqi-maqam/

Iraqi Maqam is yet another altogether beguiling form of music that you can profitably acquaint yourself with. Expressive vocals singing semi-improvised serpentine melodies over highly structured instrumental backings. Here the vocals are handled by one of the (perhaps the) leading current exponents of the style, Hamid Al-Saadi. And the instrumental backings are handled by an ensemble led by the excellent jazz trumpet player Amir ElSaffar — here wearing his santur (a kind of hammered dulcimer)–playing hat.

MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: The old burger-at-Building on Bond / cocktails-at-Robert double play.