Fast Horse Recordings releases
Friendship, a new CD by Iraqi ud player Rahim Alhaj backed by his
Sadaka String Quartet.
In 1991, after the first Gulf War, Rahim AlHaj was forced to leave Iraq due to
his political activism against the Saddam Hussein regime and began his life in
Jordan and Syria.
He moved to the US in 2000 as a political refugee and has resided in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, ever since.
Rahim has performed all over the world, on
tour with Munir Bashir, his teacher, as well as solo and with his string quartet
project, including numerous concerts in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Morocco,
Tunisia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, and France and hundreds of concerts in the
United States.
Rahim’s music delicately combines traditional Iraqi maqams with contemporary
styling and influence. His compositions are about the experience of exile from
his homeland and of new beginnings in his adopted country.
Buy
Friendship
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
