Maqamposers Club

Brooklyn Maqam's Maqamposers Club is a new project dedicated to performing original music by local composers rooted in maqam practices. New York has one of the most extensive Arabic music scenes in the United States, and this performance showcases instrumental compositions by musicians and composers currently based in NYC — whether traditional taqatiq and sama'iyyat or more modern inventions.

Zafer Tawil leads on oud, with Alber Baseel on percussion, Gideon Forbes on ney, Sarah Mueller on violin, and John Murchison on qanun. Expect a set that moves between classical maqam forms and contemporary compositions, all rooted in the same harmonic and melodic traditions.

Barbes is an intimate room — the kind of venue where the acoustics reward sitting close. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online in advance or at the door that night. Doors open at 7 PM; the performance runs until 9:30 PM. Note that tickets do not guarantee seating, so arriving early is wise if you want a seat.