Dhafer Youssef fuses contemporary jazz with Middle Eastern influences.
Tunisian-born musician Dhafer Youssef is set to perform at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho, London. Taking place on 9 and 10 October, the show will fuse contemporary jazz with Middle Eastern influences, If the sounds of a cross-cultural musical experience is exciting, then here’s what you need to know.
Originally from Teboulba, Tunisia, Dhafer grew up surrounded by spiritual music – his grandfather was a muezzin, delivering the daily call to prayer. Drawn to jazz from a young age, he later moved to Paris and Vienna, where he honed his craft and began developing his distinctive sound.
A virtuoso of the oud, Dhafer reimagines the traditional Arabic instrument with a modern approach. His performances blend intricate Arabic rhythms with the improvisational freedom of jazz. He showcases not only his instrumental prowess, but also his extraordinary vocal range. Spanning four octaves, his voice shifts effortlessly between chest, head, and falsetto registers and creates moments of both power and serenity.
With a career spanning over two decades and nine albums, Dhafer’s music is deeply personal. He is shaped by the ideas of mysticism and Sufism. The songs are often imbued with a spiritual, contemplative tone.
Over Dhafer’s career, he has collaborated with jazz legends such as Herbie Hancock and Marcus Miller. Plus, a mix of international musicians, including trumpeter Paolo Fresu and guitarist Eivind Aarset.
For Dhafer’s appearance at Ronnie Scott’s, he will be joined by an impressive line-up. The list includes Tao Ehrlich on drums, Johannes Bär on trumpet, trombone and tuba, Swaeli Mbappé on bass, and Marc Priore on piano.
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GO: Visit www.ronniescotts.co.uk for more information.