Brooklyn Maqam is an organization dedicated to presenting Middle Eastern (in particular, Arabic) music, with the goals of expanding its audience, preserving it as an art form, and building community centered around the music.

Souq El-Jum3a (Friday Market) will perform at Barbes a combination of original compositions and classical songs from their unique repertoire. The audience will enjoy songs, poems, and stories redolent with the scents of the past, yet anchored in the moment of now. Souq El-Jum3a will donate all ticket proceeds to the relief of people affected by the Earthquake in Syria/Turkey.

Featuring:

Hussam Jefee-Bahloul - oud
Mohammad Salah Ali - vocals
Ghassan Sawalhi - percussion
Lana Awad: frame drum
Rami AbuOlaya - Nay

Souq El-Jum3a is a group of immigrant musicians and artists from the Arab world presenting original songs that aspire to preserve the essence of classical Arabic music. The project strives through collaboration of artists through the mediums of song-making and music videos. The name of the project takes its meaning from (Friday Market) which is a spontaneous market (or souq) that assembles weekly on the holy day of Friday in many cities across the Arab world. Souqs where people from all walks of life gather to socialize and market. Artists come to our “souq” to collaborate and create. A modern day “Souq Okaz” for song-making, if you will. The new project has released multiple songs and music videos and performed locally and virtually to fans around the world