Tunisian oud master Dhafer Youssef is coming to the LAC with an ensemble of six musicians for a concert that blends Arab tradition, jazz, and electronic music. He is one of the most original voices on the contemporary scene, capable of redefining the role of his ancient instrument.
With his unmistakable musical language, Dhafer Youssef brings a project to the LAC that blends tradition and experimental sound. Born in Tunisia and trained in Europe and the Middle East, Youssef draws on his roots in Sufi culture and the vocal traditions of liturgical chant, while simultaneously maintaining a constant openness to jazz and the music of other cultures.
At the heart of his artistic exploration is the oud, a traditional Arab stringed instrument considered the ancestor of the European lute, which Youssef has helped take beyond its historical boundaries. Alongside the instrumental dimension, his voice—extended and highly expressive—becomes an integral part of the soundscape, expanding its timbral and narrative possibilities.
In dialogue with the group’s musicians, the compositions take on hybrid and ever-evolving forms, in which acoustic and electronic elements coexist in balance. The result is music that defies rigid definitions and builds a bridge between East and West, giving rise to a personal and distinctive musical language.