Latest news with #orientaljazz
The National
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Composer Ziad Rahbani, 'the voice of Lebanon's soul', dies at 69: Tributes pour in for beloved composer
Ziad Rahbani, a Lebanese composer, playwright and political commentator known for his influential role in Arabic theatre and music, has died aged 69. The cause of death has yet to be announced. The son of renowned singer Fairouz and composer the late Assi Rahbani, Ziad Rahbani is widely regarded as one of the most distinctive creative voices to emerge from Lebanon in the past five decades. Toufic Maatouk, Lebanese composer and musicologist, told The National: 'Ziad Rahbani's music is a voice carved from Lebanon's soul. He called it 'oriental jazz,' but it was more – a fusion of Arabic melodies, funk, and jazz that sounded unmistakably Lebanese. Each note carried Beirut's chaos, warmth, and wit. Ziad's artistry wasn't imitation, it was invention, born from home.' Rahbani rose to prominence during the Lebanese Civil War through a series of acclaimed plays and musical works that combined colloquial Lebanese dialogue, jazz and classical Arabic music with political and social critique. He was born in Beirut in 1956 into one of the Arab world's most prominent musical families. He began his professional career at an early age, composing Saalouni El Nass in 1973, which Fairouz performed during a period when Assi Rahbani was recovering from a stroke. In the years that followed, Ziad Rahbani established himself as an important figure in Beirut's cultural scene. His early theatre productions including Nazl el-Sourour explored themes of civil conflict, sectarianism and everyday life in Lebanon with a satirical and often provocative tone. Rahbani was an outspoken political commentator, often expressing support for leftist movements and criticising the Lebanese political establishment. While his views were often polarising, he remained a leading voice in regional cultural and political discourse. In addition to his theatre work, Rahbani continued to compose music throughout his career, including a number of collaborations with his mother, in the 1980s. Albums such as Maarifti Feek and Wahdon introduced lyrical and musical directions for the celebrated musician, often reflecting more personal or socially conscious themes. Although he gave few interviews in his later years, Rahbani continued to perform live, frequently mixing music with political commentary during his concerts. His influence extends to several generations of Arab musicians, writers and performers. In recent years, the rise of the Habibi funk movement has won Rahbani fans around the world, with albums including Houdou Nisbi, Amrak Seedna & Abtal Wa Harameyah and Bennesbeh Labokra … Chou? reissued internationally on vinyl to great acclaim. Arab musicians pay tribute to Ziad Rahbani Lebanese musician Tania Salah, considered one of the founding voices of the country's independent music culture, says that Rahbani is the true architect of the scene. 'Some people like to think the indie scene started with us. I don't think so. I believe it started with him, because he was already independent – from his family, from the Lebanese music scene, and even from the larger Arab world. His influences came from everywhere. He was the true first,' says Salah. Mayssa Kara, singer and artistic director of Berklee Abu Dhabi, said that Rahbani's current influence extended far beyond his artistic output. 'Ziad Rahbani was more than just a musician; he was a voice, a mirror, and a pulse for Lebanon,' said Kara. 'He taught generations how to speak the truth through music, no matter how uncomfortable that truth was. His art was always based on his deep love for his country and its people, and this love shaped every lyric, melody, and story he told. 'People of all ages, classes, and faiths could relate to Ziad's music because it was so real. As a musician, he broke all the rules and didn't follow trends or fit into moulds, carving out a path that countless artists, including myself, have drawn inspiration from. He showed us that music could be both heartbreaking and full of humour,' Kara says. 'Ziad, rest in music. Your music, your words, and your spirit will always live on in the hearts of the people of Lebanon. Without you, we might not even know what Lebanon means, but maybe that's the beauty of your legacy: you've become part of the country's very definition.' Emirati composer Ihab Darwish says: 'For us, this is a tragedy. It feels like we've lost one of the most iconic musicians in the Arab world. 'While I never met him, I consider him one of my idols. He taught me a lot about blending different genres. He also clearly has a storytelling style that is very similar to mine – ensuring that music has a narrative and theme.'
The National
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Ziad Rahbani, 'the voice of Lebanon's soul', dies at 69: Tributes pour in for beloved composer
Ziad Rahbani, a Lebanese composer, playwright and political commentator known for his influential role in Arabic theatre and music, has died aged 69. A cause of death has yet to be announced. The son of renowned singer Fairouz and composer Assi Rahbani, Rahbani is widely regarded as one of the most distinctive creative voices to emerge from Lebanon in the past five decades. Toufic Maatouk, Lebanese composer and musicologist, told The National: "Ziad Rahbani's music is a voice carved from Lebanon's soul. He called it 'oriental jazz,' but it was more – a fusion of Arabic melodies, funk, and jazz that sounded unmistakably Lebanese. Each note carried Beirut's chaos, warmth, and wit. Ziad's artistry wasn't imitation, it was invention, born from home." Rahbani rose to prominence during the Lebanese Civil War through a series of acclaimed plays and musical works that combined colloquial Lebanese dialogue, jazz and classical Arabic music with political and social critique. He was born in Beirut in 1956 into one of the Arab world's most prominent musical families. He began his professional career at a young age, composing Saalouni El Nass in 1973, which Fairouz performed during a period when Assi Rahbani was recovering from a stroke. In the years that followed, Rahbani established himself as an important figure in Beirut's cultural scene. His early theatre productions explored themes of civil conflict, sectarianism and everyday life in Lebanon with a satirical and often provocative tone. Rahbani was an outspoken political commentator, often expressing support for leftist movements and criticising the Lebanese political establishment. While his views were often polarising, he remained a key voice in regional cultural and political discourse. In addition to his theatre work, Rahbani continued to compose music throughout his career, including a number of collaborations with his mother Fairouz, in the 1980s. Albums such as Maarifti Feek and Wahdon introduced lyrical and musical directions for the celebrated musician, often reflecting more personal or socially conscious themes. Although he gave few interviews in his later years, Rahbani continued to perform live, frequently mixing music with political commentary during his concerts. His influence extends to multiple generations of Arab musicians, writers and performers. In recent years, the rise of the Habibi funk movement has garnered Rahbani new fans around the world, with albums including Houdou Nisbi, Amrak Seedna & Abtal Wa Harameyah and Bennesbeh Labokra... Chou? reissued internationally on vinyl to great acclaim. Arab musicians pay tribute to Ziad Rahbani Lebanese musician Tania Salah, considered one of the founding voices of the country's independent music culture, says that Rahbani is the true architect of the scene. Salah said: "Some people like to think the indie scene started with us. I don't think so. I believe it started with him, because he was already independent – from his family, from the Lebanese music scene, and even from the larger Arab world. His influences came from everywhere. He was the true first." Mayssa Kara, singer and artistic director of Berklee Abu Dhabi, said that Rahbani's current influence extended far beyond his artistic output. 'Ziad Rahbani was more than just a musician; he was a voice, a mirror, and a pulse for Lebanon," said Kara. "He taught generations how to speak the truth through music, no matter how uncomfortable that truth was. His art was always based on his deep love for his country and its people, and this love shaped every lyric, melody, and story he told. "People of all ages, classes, and faiths could relate to Ziad's music because it was so real. As a musician, he broke all the rules and didn't follow trends or fit into moulds, carving out a path that countless artists, including myself, have drawn inspiration from. He showed us that music could be both heartbreaking and full of humor," Kara said. "Ziad, rest in music. Your music, your words, and your spirit will always live on in the hearts of the people of Lebanon. Without you, we might not even know what Lebanon means, but maybe that's the beauty of your legacy: you've become part of the country's very definition." Emirati composer Ihab Darwish said: "For us, this is a tragedy. It feels like we've lost one of the most iconic musicians in the Arab world. "While I never met him, I consider him one of my idols. He taught me a lot about blending different genres. He also clearly has a storytelling style that is very similar to mine – ensuring that music has a narrative and theme."
Al Jazeera
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Al Jazeera
Ziad Rahbani, pioneering Lebanese musician and composer, dies at 69
Lebanese musician and composer Ziad Rahbani, son of the iconic singer Fairuz and a pioneer of fusion jazz, has died at the age of 69 of a heart attack. 'On Saturday at 9:00am, the heart of the great artist and creator Ziad Rahbani stopped beating,' said a statement from the hospital where he was being treated in the capital, Beirut, on Saturday. Rahbani influenced generations of Lebanese people with his songs and especially his plays, whose lines are known by heart by both young and old. He was the son of Fairuz, the last living legend of Arabic song – and one of the most famous Arab women worldwide – and composer Assi Rahbani, who, along with his brother Mansour, modernised Arabic song by blending classical Western, Russian, and Latin American pieces with Middle Eastern rhythms. 'I admire the music of composers like Charlie Parker, Stan Getz and Dizzy Gillespie,' Rahbani once said. 'But my music is not Western, it's Lebanese, with a different way of expression.' Fairouz also became an icon for young people when Rahbani composed songs for her influenced by jazz rhythms – he called it 'oriental jazz'. Lebanon's leaders paid a heartfelt tribute to the Lebanese composer, who was also a playwright, pianist and political provocateur. President Joseph Aoun called Rahbani 'a living conscience, a voice that rebelled against injustice, and a sincere mirror of the oppressed and marginalised'. 'Lebanon has lost an exceptional and creative artist, a free voice that remained faithful to the values of justice and dignity' and who said 'what many did not dare to say', said Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Rahbani's works reflected the hybrid heritage of Lebanon, which, until the civil war erupted in 1975, was a cultural melting pot. It also reflected the ensuing sectarian strife, which involved bloody street battles between rival militias and three years of violent Israeli occupation after the 1982 invasion. While Fairuz transcended the powerful sectarian divides in the country, her son chose to be resolutely left-wing and secular, denouncing Lebanon's longstanding divisions. His breakout play, Nazl el-Sourour (Happiness Hotel), premiered in 1974 when he was only 17, portrayed a society disfigured by class inequality and repression. The play follows a group of workers who take over a restaurant to demand their rights, only to be dismissed by the political elite. In another play, Bennesbeh Labokra Chou? (What About Tomorrow?), he plays a jaded bar pianist in post-civil war Beirut. The work features some of Rahbani's most poignant music and biting commentary, including the famous line, 'They say tomorrow will be better, but what about today?' Rahbani was also a composer of staggering range. He infused traditional Arabic melodies with jazz, funk and classical influences, creating a hybrid sound that became instantly recognisable. His live performances were legendary, when he often played piano in smoky clubs in Hamra, one of Beirut's major commercial districts. In recent years, Rahbani appeared less in the public eye, but younger generations rediscovered his plays online and sampled his music in protest movements. He continued to compose and write, speaking often of his frustration with Lebanon's political stagnation and decaying public life. 'I feel like everything is over, I feel like Lebanon has become empty,' wrote Lebanese actress Carmen Lebbos, his former partner, on X. Rahbani is survived by his mother, now 90, his sister Reema and brother Hali.
