Firas Zreik – Salute (Levantine Music, 2023)
Salute is the first full-length album by Firas Zreik, a remarkable composer, kanun virtuoso, and educator. The album highlights the versatility of the kanun with an extraordinary set of solo kanun and dazzling ensemble pieces. Notably, the kanun elegantly interacts with modern and traditional musical instruments in an imaginative, finely crafted and stellar form of Middle Eastern fusion.
Firas Zreik has been captivating audiences across the globe as a leader and highly sought-after collaborator since 2013. Born in Palestine and based in New York, Zreik is a sonic revolutionary who has transformed the perception of the kanun, an instrument that holds a significant place in the maqam tradition. He has elevated its potential and preserved its identity as well, while enhancing a range of fresh, evolving sounds. Through his music, he views the maqam’s improvisation-driven legacy as a vessel for unbound creative expression across musical styles.
Over the years, he has collaborated with a cross-section of leaders, including progressive rock star Roger Waters (Pink Floyd), Simon Shaheen, and Fabrizio Cassol, to name a few. He has also worked with his internationally-renowned mother and frequent artistic partner, Amal Murkus, for whom he serves as musical director.
In live performance, Zreik conjures up a complexity of emotion that shape-shifts throughout his sets. Zreik has performed at storied venues, intimate clubs, and international festivals, including the influential world music showcase WOMEX 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal, where he was selected as an official showcase artist. He has also appeared at prestigious institutions and venues like the Smithsonian Museum, Savannah Music Festival, and Hill Auditorium.
In 2020, during the pandemic lockdown, he released his debut EP “Solo” (Levantine Music), featuring a contemplative set of kanun music. He followed that up with the release of two singles, “Lullaby for Nature” (Levantine Music) and “Sentiments of Emptiness” (Universal Music Group), before releasing his first full-length recording of original music, “Salute,” in Spring 2023, featuring his 8-piece band.
Before arriving in New York in 2020, Zreik received his Bachelor of Arts in Music from Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he completed a double major in Performance and Jazz Composition and received a full presidential scholarship. He has received global recognition for his artistry as a member of the Medinea Network and as a participant in various programs like the Beit Al-Musica Guildhall Exchange program in London and the Intercultural Session in Aix En Provence and Sardinia, Italy. In 2019, Zreik served as an Artist-in-Residence at the Blue Mountain Center Residency and was chosen as the sole musician for inclusion on the Arab America Foundation’s 30 Under 30 list.
As an educator, Zreik has taught at the Arabic Music Retreat in Western Massachusetts and Circle World Arts in Brooklyn, delivering workshops at NYU Abu Dhabi, Tufts, and Berklee. He credits his spirit of experimentation, in part, to the dedicated instructors who have guided his artistry, including Mahran Moreb, Simon Shaheen, and Greg Hopkins, to name a few. Since 2020, he has been offering private kanun lessons to an international community of talented artists.
Musicians on Salute: Firas Zreik on kanun; Faris Ishaq on nay; Mostafa Saad on violin; Ramiro Marziani on guitar; Jemina Brechoire on piano; Pietro Gennenzi on bass; Clemens Grassman on drums; George Ziadeh on oud; and Haitham Bishara on riq.
Buy the album at Bandcamp.
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.