The Musician Insight

A cultural and familial homage

Traditional music at the forefront

The legend Ibrahim Maalouf is back with his sixteenth studio album, Trumpets of Michel-Ange, a true celebration of his culture and a homage to his father, Nassim Maalouf.

Accompanied with his trumpet ensemble and the rest of his musicians, Maalouf makes us travel through traditional Oriental music (The Proposal, Zajal...), jazz (Fly with Me), and traditional African music (Timeless with Toumani and Sidiki Diabaté, M, Nassim and Nael Maalouf) and pop (Au Revoir).

By this incredible blend of music, Maalouf shares messages of love, hope, freedom and transmission between generations. Something even more reflected in the track Timeless, where the trumpeter plays along with his father, Nassim Maalouf, inventor of the quarter-tone trumpet.

This instrument shines through with Ibrahim Maalouf and his ensemble’s virtuosic playing. The album’s title, Trumpets of Michel-Ange can also be read as T.O.M.A, the name of the study quarter-tone trumpet Ibrahim Maalouf made in collaboration with Adrien Jamiet and Antoine Courtois.

Each track is breathtaking, with Maalouf sharing a whole new world of genius musical creativity, bringing different peoples together.

Maalouf’s effortlessly blend of music genres is truly inspiring, offering us a masterpiece full of emotion and outstanding musicality.

Photo © Yann Orhan