Mi'ster

40 melodies for 40 years. Ibrahim Maalouf is celebrating another decade on earth and he’s gone all out. How else would he be able to cover all the sides to his sound? Over the course of his albums and collaborations, the Franco-Lebanese trumpeter’s world has expanded into a fascinating mosaic of jazz, pop, oriental music, French chanson and a thousand other genres. Though what makes this album so great is just how intimate it is. This 12th album stands out from his others. For the first time in his 15-year-long career, Maalouf plays in duet with his old friend – the Belgian guitarist François Delporte. The duo revisit key melodies from the trumpet player’s previous albums and soundtracks. We also find a few previously unreleased tracks. The cherry on the (birthday) cake is the long list of party guests: Sting, Matthieu Chedid, Marcus Miller, Alfredo Rodriguez, Richard Bona, Trilok Gurtu, Jon Batiste and Arturo Sandoval. As shown by his previous records, Ibrahim Maalouf is like a musical crossbreeder. Here, he lays bare his playing, his sound and his relationship to melody and improvisation. Plus, he never forgets about Delporte, whose guitar isn’t just ornamental. The brilliance of Maalouf’s playing becomes even more obvious in this minimalist setting. While in the past it has been hidden amongst heavily orchestrated, heavily arranged and heavily produced works, it sounds here almost like a confession. One that’s swathed in emotion, especially in the context of a wounded Beirut and crumbling Lebanon… With just a melody, just a trumpet and guitar, Ibrahim Maalouf floats through various landscapes and eras on what might just be one of his best recordings yet. © Marc Zisman/Qobuz

If you’re searching for a multi-talented musician who never stops, look no further than Ibrahim Maalouf. In September 2018, he released the challenging Levantine Symphony No.1, and just two months later he released a recording of his live performance at the AccorHotels Arena from late 2016. The following summer he hit the road in France, teaming up with Haïdouti Orkestar to bring us an album inspired by Balkan music. His famous quarter-tone trumpet knows no limits and he is certainly not about to put it down any time soon. Now, in the autumn of 2019, he is releasing his 14 th album in twelve years, S3NS, which ventures into Afro-Cuban territory. At the beginning of S3NS, Harold Lopez-Nussa’s piano is followed by a handful of soft chords, setting the theme with Una Rosa Blanca, which, as it unfolds, gives both instruments the freedom to enjoy a lively back and forth to a caliente rhythm. The next track, Happy Face, is by Argentine composer Lalo Schifrin and could easily fit into the soundtrack for an action film (Bullitt, Mission Impossible, Starsky & Hutch). The title track itself is fairly typical of Lebanese romanticism and lyricism, ranging from moments of saudade to moments of pure joy.We’re then transported to Cuba for Harlem where Chucho Valdès’s protégé, Irving Calao, takes his place behind the piano for some heart-felt Latin-jazz. The pianist then hands over to violinist Yilian Canizares for the very joyful Na Na Na, followed by newcomer pianist from Havana, Alfredo Rodriguez, who makes his mark on N.E.G.U. Next, Gebrayel features not only Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca but also Belgian pianist Eric Legnini and his fellow musicians François Delporte on guitar and Stéphane Galland on drums. After this Latino infusion we’re then brought back to a state of calm with a suave trumpet-piano duo in All I Can’t Say, and piano and trumpet come hand in hand once again at the beginning of Radio Magallanes, which is the name of a Chilean radio station that supported Salvador Allende’s socialist policies. The song opens on a sad note before picking up halfway through with an onslaught of guitars, brass and percussion and lets the voice of the former president be heard, as he was overthrown by dictator Augusto Pinochet. With those unmistakeable accents and verve, the sound of Ibrahim Maalouf’s trumpet is truly glorious all the way through this album. © Benjamin MiNiMuM/Qobuz

In November 2014, the Alice of Lewis Carroll crossed paths with Ibrahim Maalouf and Oxmo Puccino! Their meeting gave birth to a superb concept album, 'In the land of Alice ...' guided by the magic of the trumpeter and the might of the rapper's lyrical prowess. With the addition of the orchestra and choirs, both artists were building the backbone of a modern and multicultural opera. An ambitious project, full of good humour, freedom... a new complete work that has been discovered within a classic. © CM / Qobuz