Lebanese jazz composer and multi-instrumentalist Ibrahim Maalouf will appear on a lavishly shot Qwest TV concert at the Arènes de Nîmes, a Roman-era amphitheater in France. The video experience is a Qwest TV Original, only the third in Qwest’s history.
“This time has been challenging for musicians, for music lovers, for all of us. We need music’s guidance and comfort now more than ever,” reveals Qwest TV co-founder and CEO Reza Ackbaraly. “Yet the challenges have pushed us toward greater creativity and allowed us to work with innovative artists like Ibrahim in wonderful new ways. We are thrilled to be able to collaborate on this unique concert together.”
This Ibrahim Maalouf performance will debut on November 5, 2020 at 9:00 p.m. (21:00) Central European Time (CET) via the service’s SVOD platform worldwide and its live linear channels (available on Samsung TV+ and Huawei in Europe), the day before the release of Maalouf’s latest album, 40 Melodies, a series of pieces to commemorate his 40th birthday.
“We have only done two Qwest TV Originals prior to this work with Ibrahim,” explains Ackbaraly. “Both celebrate Qwest TV’s co-founder Quincy Jones. One presents Jones’s 85th birthday at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2018 and the second a gala concert in Paris in his honor. We’re inspired to bring more experiences like this one to our viewers, especially in a time when other musical events are limited.”
The restrictions of lockdown inspired the show’s format. The venue had to be outdoor. There would be no cheering crowds, but there would be a small collective of musicians. “We decided to do a concert that was ‘unconfined,’” says Maalouf, “kind of like the way people do unplugged concerts.”
Despite the fact that no audience was present, Maalouf filled the space. Drawing on his roots in Lebanon, yet determinedly incorporating global sounds, jazz idioms, and pop hooks, Maalouf has built a celebrity reputation as a performer, selling out major European and American venues, and as a film composer.
“The Arena at Nîmes is enormous,” Maalouf reports. “Yet the void created by the absence of an audience, strangely and paradoxically, filled the space.”
About Ibrahim Maalouf
One of the most popular instrumentalists and composers based in France today, Maalouf was born in Beirut, Lebanon, a place and culture that continues to inspire him. He has released 15 albums, composed 10 orchestral works, and scored many popular feature films and documentaries, winning awards for his compositions and soundtracks throughout Europe.
Maalouf has collaborated with pop star Sting and acclaimed world music duo Amadou & Mariam. His latest album, 40 Melodies (release date: November 6, 2020) features Maalouf’s trumpet, his close collaborator Francois Delport’s guitar, and 40 melodies, each with a story of its own. More about Ibrahim Maalouf.
About Qwest TV
Qwest TV is the principal streaming service devoted to jazz, soul, funk & world music; co-founded and curated by Quincy Jones. More at Qwest TV
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central