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.

THIS MONTH:
The Suznak Trio

Featuring Sami Abu Shumays on violin and Johnny Farraj on riqq, this trio includes a surprise special guest on the oud. The Suznak Trio performs Arabic instrumental compositions in an intimate format, highlighting the virtuosity of these master musicians. This program includes repertory by 20th century masters such as Abdo Dagher, Ruhi il-Khamash, and George Michel, as well as classic pieces by Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Riyad al Sunbati, and Mohamed al Qasabgi


Abu Shumays: One of the leading Arab violinists in the U.S., Sami Abu Shumays is internationally known as a master of the maqam system. He is co-author of the acclaimed book Inside Arabic Music (Oxford University Press 2019), and his passion for teaching and oral tradition is also expressed through his YouTube series "Maqam Lessons," the website www.maqamlessons.com, and his contributions to www.maqamworld.com. Co-founder and director of the NYC-based Arabic music and dance ensemble Zikrayat  Sami has also recently released his first solo album Circles, available on all streaming platforms 

A second-generation Palestinian-American, Sami originally studied Western music before traveling to the Arab World to reconnect with his roots. He studied with Alfred Gamil in Cairo; Mohamed Qasas, Abdel-Basit Bakkar, and Abdel-Minaim Senkary in Aleppo; and Simon Shaheen and Yusuf Kassab in New York.