Omar Bashir - 4 Albums

Omar Bashir: A Great Promise on the Arab Music Horizon

Omar Bashir was born in Budapest in 1970 and began playing the oud at the age of five. He was tutored by his father and went on to study at the Conservatory in Baghdad. He later returned to Budapest, where he taught at the University. He is currently based in Budapest and you can find more information about his concerts, albums, etc.

At 31, Omar Bashir, son of the late, renowned Iraqi composer and oud master Munir Bashir, is one of the most prolific Arab musicians today. With seven albums in a variety of styles to his credit, and an extensive resume of live performances in Europe and the Middle East, Omar is a rising star in the world of Arabic music in general and the oud in particular.

Born in Baghdad in 1970 into a musical family (his father, grandfather, and uncle were musicians and oud players), Omar started his musical journey at an early age. At the age of seven he entered the School of Music and Ballet in Baghdad; at nine he played his first oud solo, a 15-minute composition by his father. In 1986, after graduating from the School of Music and Ballet, he joined the School of Music Studies. During this period, he performed in evening concerts as well as shows at the end of the school year. He also led and managed Al Bayariq Group, widely considered one of the best classical Arabic ensembles at that time. After graduating in 1991, he left Baghdad to continue his studies at the Music Academy in Budapest, Hungary, where he also learned classical guitar and Western music. Since graduating from the university in Budapest in 1997, Omar has performed internationally, both solo and with other international musicians, and has helped produce his own albums.

His seven albums are: "From Euphrates to Danube" (1998), "Ud Duet" (1998, with Munir Bashir), "Zikrayati" (1999), "Ashwaq" (1999), "Flamenco Night" (2000), "Maqam" (2000), and "Al-Andalous" (2001). He has two more albums in production and will release them this year.

[01]. Omar Bashir - Zykrayati

This is the third album featuring Omar Bashir, and he presents another selection of Iraqi maqamat. He is accompanied by percussion on several tracks. Two of the pieces are based on Kurdish and Iraqi traditional melodies, and Bashir develops them in his unique style.

TRACK LISTINGS

1. Lourca (trad. Kurd) maqam al-laouk
2. Fok al-Nakhl (trad. Iraq) maqam hijaz
3. Baghdad (Munir Bashir) maqam nahawand
4. Babel (Omar Bashir) maqam moukhalaf, sigah, houzam

Zykrayati

[02]. Omar Bashir - Flamenco Night

Another live recording, this time in Jordan in 1997, which features some of the old favourites. The accompanying musicians are Robert Michael (guitar), Bashar al-Azzawi (guitar), Benjamin Yousef (bass) and Maher Hanhan (percussion).

TRACK LISTINGS

1. Lika'
2. Ji Mani Wali (to Jamil Bashir)
3. Al Oud Wal Andalous
4. Baghdad (to Munir Bashir)
5. Pharaon
6. Minal'oud Ilal Guitar

Flamenco Night

[03]. Omar Bashir & the Horvath Gypsy Band - Gipsy Oud

TRACK LISTINGS

1. Gypsy Oud
2. Gypsy Dance
3. Priental Wind
4. Hungarian Night
5. Forest

Gipsy Oud

[04]. Omar Bashir - From Euphrat to Danube

Some experimental works of oud and other western instruments. This is one of Omar's first albums. Omar had studied and lives in Hungary. This is a collection of his compositions that bridge the east and the west.