Biography
The Ziryab Trio derives its name from a ninth-century vocalist, instrumentalist, and composer who served at the Baghdad court of Haroun Al-Rashid. The ensemble sustains an ongoing investigation of Arabic and Turkish repertoires from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Through performances on oud, violin, and percussion, the group revives works by key composers including Riad Al-Sunbati, Tanburi Jemil Bey, and Muhammed Al-Qasabji. Its membership unites three former participants in the multi-ethnic instrumental ensemble Bustan Abraham: Taiseer Elias, Nassim Dakwar, and Zohar Fresco. Elias, acknowledged as one of the Middle East’s leading oud players, had earlier created the Orchestra of the Classical Arab World. Dakwar, the violinist who founded a musical conservatory in the Arab village of Tarshiha, continues to act as principal violinist for the Nazareth Orchestra of Classical Arab Music. Fresco, the percussionist and son of Turkish-Jewish parents, maintains a busy career as a session player and has appeared on recordings by numerous Israeli artists, among them vocalist Noa.
Albums