For Your Consideration:
TARABESQUE
Best Global Music Album

 
GRAMMY Awards®

Firas Zreik - Tarabesque
Maqam Records
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

Tarabesque introduces a new musical language rooted in Maqam, guided by Tarab, and shaped through contemporary jazz practices in improvisation and form, with the voice of the Kanun.

Stream Tarabesque

“This is an edifying and sincerely uplifting gem of an album.”
 - Pop Matters

“Tarabesque is a kind of platonic ideal of some sector of contemporary jazz: dialogic, complex, and made so with a great sense of purpose.”
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“Zreik’s musicianship is extraordinary, scattering tightly packed notes with verve and precision, dipping into subtle microtonality while fully inhabiting the daring hybrid forms he proposes. Consider me transported.” ‍  

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Firas Zreik

Composer, producer & Kanunist Firas Zreik has performed and recorded across the world as a leader and highly sought collaborator. The Palestine-born New Yorker has transformed global perception of the Kanun. His treatment of the instrument preserves its identity as a vital part of the Maqam tradition, and stretches its potential as a cultural chameleon enhancing a range of fresh, evolving sounds.

Zreik received GRAMMY recognition as a songwriter for his collaboration with Puerto Rican artist Residente on the song “Bajo los Escombros” which was part of the GRAMMY-winning album (best Musica Urbana Album 2024). Over the years, he has collaborated with a cross section of leaders, including Roger Waters, Residente, G.E. Smith, Simon Shaheen, Amir ElSaffar, Fabrizio Cassol, Shreya Goshal, Shankar Mahadevan and Amal Murkus.

Zreik has released and self-produced three albums—Solo (2021), Salute (2023) and Tarabesque (2026)—as well as The Art of Kanun (2025), a film-scoring album commissioned and released by Universal Production Music France.

Album Credits

  • Musicians: Firas Zreik - Kanun, Gideon Forbes - Saxophone & Nay, Jemina Brechoire - Piano & Keys, Ramiro Marziani - Guitar, Layth Siddiq - Violin, Anan Makhoul - Oud, John Murchison - Bass, Alber Baseel - Percussion, Clemens Grassman - Drums
  • Recording Engineers: Katie Von Schleicher, Lily Wen
  • Overdubbing Engineers: Franky Gonzalez, Carlos Lillo Gómez
  • Mixing & Mastering: Kevin Salem
  • Studio: Figure-8 Recording
  • Graphic Design: Mariam Krisht
  • Cover Photo: Oukool Creative
  • Label: Maqam Records
 Composed & produced by Firas Zreik© 2026