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.