Basel Zayed seated at a black grand piano on a dark stage
Oud Virtuoso · Composer · Vocalist

Basel Zayed

بـــاســـل زايـــد

Jerusalem-born composer and conductor — carrying Arabic Maqam tradition onto the world's stages, fused with jazz and the language of film. As featured in The Boston Globe.

As Featured In
Basel Zayed with his Godin oud beside a grand piano
Biography

A Voice Carrying Jerusalem Across the World

Basel Zayed is a Jerusalem-born Oud virtuoso, composer, and acclaimed vocalist known for his mastery of classical and contemporary Arabic music and the Maqam tradition. A trained pianist and skilled arranger, he composes and records original scores for film, theatre, and dance, and has built a reputation as a compelling musical leader and conductor. His work and story have been featured by The Boston Globe, The Media Line, Palestine Chronicle, and RootsWorld.

He has performed at major venues and festivals across Sweden, Italy, France, Spain, Denmark, Lebanon, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Jordan, Russia, Egypt, and Palestine, carrying the Arabic Maqam tradition to international audiences and exploring its resonance alongside jazz and other contemporary styles. An experienced music educator with a background in music therapy, Basel is a member of Ayn Trio, Turab, and Yalalan, and one of his central interests is exploring the universality of Middle Eastern music.

طربTarab — the transcendent state of musical ecstasy at the heart of Maqam performance, and the feeling Basel chases in every set.
Basel Zayed performing on his Godin oud, lit on a dark stage
On Stages Worldwide

A Global Stage

PalestineUnited StatesCanadaUnited KingdomSwedenItalyFranceSpainDenmarkLebanonJordanRussiaEgypt
Stockholm

Nordic Palestinian Film Festival

Opening performer — special concert and seminar on the role of film music in cultural expression.

Vancouver

Gaza Benefit Performance

Headline performance at a fundraising event in support of Gaza.

Boston · Nov 29

Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

Featured artist at this international observance — upcoming.

Recordings

Listen

From Hada Leil with Turab to his newest album, I Also Saw — stream Basel's recordings and film/dance scores across every major platform.

The Albums

Full Discography

Every release streams below with 30-second previews — no account needed. Sign in to Spotify for full playback.

I Also Saw

I'm From Gaza

Ayn Trio

Kharoub

Basel Zayed

Hada Leil

On Screen

Watch

AddomBasel Zayed
LoveLyrics by Subhi Zubaidi
HalwatBasel Zayed
Sharek Dahabwith Ayn Trio
WadoodBasel Zayed
I'm From GazaLyrics by Sobhi Al-Zobidi
Kurd ImprovisationSolo Oud
I Also SawTitle track
AzraqBasel Zayed
In the Press

Press

The Boston Globe
"Blacklisted on the West Bank, Basel Zayed has settled into his new musical home in Boston" (2024)
Read the Article (PDF) →
This Week in Palestine
"Artist of the Month" — feature profile (2018)
Read the Article (PDF) →
RootsWorld
"Basel Zayed – Ayn Trio" — review by Tyran Grillo (2019)
Read the Article (PDF) →
RootsWorld
"Music of the Month: Basel Zayed's Ayn Trio" (2019)
Read the Article (PDF) →
Palestine Chronicle
"Let Palestine Sing: Interview with Basel Zayed"
Read the Article (PDF) →
The Electronic Intifada
"Concert Interrupted by PA Police Over Song Critical of UN Statehood Bid" (2012)
Read the Article (PDF) →
The Media Line
"Live Zoom Performance With Oud Player Basel Zayed"
Read the Article (PDF) →
مجلة رمّان الثقافية — Rumman Cultural Magazine Arabic
"باسل زايد: عملي الجديد يطرح سؤالًا وجوديًا حول مفهوم الانتماء" (2018)
Read the Article (PDF, Arabic) →
العربي الجديد — The New Arab Arabic
"باسل زايد: الكثير من التجارب العربية لا تعبّر عن واقع حياتنا" (2018)
Read the Article (PDF, Arabic) →
مونت كارلو الدولية — Monte Carlo Doualiya Arabic
"باسل زايد: موسيقى للاشتباك وأخرى للعلاج" — radio feature (2016)
Read the Article (PDF, Arabic) →
Basel Zayed's Godin oud, lit on a dark stage
Booking & Inquiries

Bring Basel to Your Stage

Available for festivals, concert series, film/dance scoring, and cultural programming worldwide. Technical rider available on request.

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