Smithsonian Global Sound – Global Sound Live
Rahim AlHaj, Iraqi oud virtuoso, records ‘Rast’. The oud, a traditional Middle Eastern string instrument, is over 5,000 years old and the grandfather of many other stringed instruments. In this video, Rahim AlHaj, Iraqi oud virtuoso and composer, plays accompanied by tabla player Souhail Kasper. It is a glimpse into recording sessions for AlHaj’s upcoming 2006 CD release on Smithsonian Folkways.

A direct link to a wonderful QuickTime video from Rahim’s Smithisonian studio sessions can be found HERE.

Rahim just left. We had lunch and made music and plans. The oud is a very quiet instrument and I had to play very lightly, but I had a blast.

It’s a small world, pt. 746,056: Rahim told me the first CD somebody played for him after coming to the USA was one of my albums.