Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood’s participation will be one of the highlights of the 27th Jerusalem International Oud Festival.
It will take place from November 5-12, bringing together musicians from Israel and abroad for 16 performances at the Jerusalem Theatre, Khan Theater, and Confederation House.
The festival, under the artistic direction of Effie Benaya and produced by Confederation House, will include artists from Britain, Greece, India, and Morocco, along with new Israeli productions exploring connections among musical traditions from across the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and Asia.
Opening night will feature Greenwood and Israeli musician Dudu Tassa performing material from their acclaimed collaborative project Jarak Qaribak, which reinterprets classic Arabic love songs from throughout the Middle East.
Their set will also include songs from a new installment of the project and from Tassa’s Dudu Tassa and the Kuwaitis album.
The collaboration between Tassa and Greenwood began after Tassa opened for Radiohead on a US tour. Jarak Qaribak features singers from countries including Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco.
Another international highlight will be the first joint Israeli appearance by veteran Greek singer Babis Tsertos and singer and santoor player Areti Ketime.
Their one-time festival performance will focus on rebetiko, often described as Greek blues, and Smyrneika, music associated with Greek refugees from Asia Minor.
Three leading performers of Indian classical music
The festival will also present Triveni, bringing together three leading performers of Indian classical music: Grammy Award-winning bansuri flutist Rakesh Chaurasia, sitar player Purbayan Chatterjee, and tabla virtuoso Ojas Adhiya.
The title, Sanskrit for the confluence of three mythical rivers, reflects a performance based on improvisation and the interaction of raga and tala.
A New Nuba will unite a five-member Moroccan vocal ensemble led by Anas Belhachemi with five Israeli poets from the Center for Andalusian Culture and Piyyut in Israel.
Sung in Hebrew and Arabic, the performance is conceived as a musical dialogue between Jewish and Muslim Andalusian traditions.
Among the Israeli productions, musician Avi Belleli of Nikmat Hatraktor will present a tribute marking 10 years since the death of influential singer, songwriter, and musician Ahuva Ozeri. He will be joined by Efrat Gosh, Hila Ruach, Ruth Dolores Weiss, and Galia Hai.
Shlomi Shaban will return to the festival
Singer-songwriter and pianist Shlomi Shaban will return to the festival for a special production featuring kamancheh player Mark Eliyahu and the Kadush Brothers, whose music places the oud at the center of a sound incorporating jazz, progressive rock, and contemporary influences.
Other events include oud virtuoso Prof. Taiseer Elias in a recital tracing the roots of classical Arabic music; a new chamber program by oud player, composer, and researcher Dr. Wassim Odeh; percussionist Itamar Doari performing original compositions ahead of his debut album; and opera singer Nour Darwish presenting her own songs alongside works associated with Umm Kulthum, Fairuz, and Farid al-Atrash.
The festival will close on November 12 with Teapacks performing with the Hafla Vehora Orchestra in a celebratory show combining the band’s hits with arrangements drawing on hora, hafla, disco, and Mimouna traditions.