Rabih Abou Khalil

The oud virtuoso Rabih Abou Kahlil, who was born in Lebanon and now lives in France, was very reserved early on when confronted with the arrogant exoticism of world music and the sound wallpaper of ethno-jazz. He stood and stands for musical exchange between different cultures and playing styles based on curiosity, empathy and eye level - and of course musical competence. In his diverse projects, which permit border crossings between Arabic music, European classical music and jazz-affine improvisations, he always places great emphasis on the selection of his musical interlocutors. Among them are such open-minded and clairaudient spirits as Charlie Mariano, Kenny Wheeler, Joachim Kühn, Jarrod Gagwin or - most recently - Elina Duni, but also the Kronos Quartet or the Ensemble Modern. Rabih Abou Khalil could contribute to current debates on interculturality and cultural appropriation a good two decades of experience-saturated, yet undogmatic impulses. Also. Once apart from outstanding live music.