Celebrating traditional Arabic instrumentation in modern culture
When Zafer Tawil was young, his middle school was closed because of demonstrations, protests, and the Palestinian revolution. It was a dangerous time when no one was safe from the potential of tear gas. His life changed when a friend of his brother invited Tawil to study at the Arabic Center for Arabic Music. He spent 16 years studying all the instruments he now specializes in there. He started with the violin, then continued to pursue every other Arabic instrument the school had on hand. After, he went on to perform and study in the Palestinian National Theatre. When he moved to Brooklyn in 1999, he got involved with many Arabic music groups, jazz groups, and fusion groups and now tours the world playing his instruments.
In addition to performing with some of the most celebrated musicians in the world, ranging from Sting to avant-garde composer/performer Elliot Sharpe to masters of Arabic music such as Simon Shaheen, Chab Mami, Bassam Saba, and George Ziadeh, he has composed music for a number of film soundtracks including Jonathan Demme’s My Favorite American, Rachel Getting Married, and the documentary, Until When.
Tawil’s style of playing is unique. Rooted in Arabic tradition, he’s immersed in modern music and is passionate about exploring how the two intersect. This blend of inspiration results in sounds primed to be used in anything from hip hop productions to lush soundscapes or emotive film scores. In this session, the qanun was recorded with AKG 414's through Pacifica P1 preamps; the violin with a Neumann U87; and the oud, darbuka, frame drum, and riq with a Bock 47.
