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:
Gabe & Alber - Oud/Percussion Duet

Oudist Gabe Lavin and percussionist Alber Basil are a virtuosic and dynamic duet that performs a broad spectrum of classical and contemporary music from the Arab world and Turkey.

Gabriel Lavin, Ph.D., is a Brooklyn-based guitarist, oudist, and scholar. He has studied and performed throughout the United States, Egypt, and the Gulf region, and in August 2024 obtained a degree in oud performance and teaching from the Bait Al Oud Conservatory in Abu Dhabi under the guidance of Sherine Tohamy. His playing and teaching incorporates a broad spectrum of regional styles and techniques from the Arab world and beyond.

Alber Baseel is a percussionist from Bethlehem, Palestine. His distinctive style comes from deep roots in his native Arabic music tradition, in combination with years of learning and collaborating in other musical genres, such as Afro-Cuban, Jazz, Balkan, and West African. Alber was formally trained at the Edward Said Conservatory and Berklee College of Music. Throughout his career, Alber has shared a stage and studio with renowned artists Simon Shaheen, Ahmad Al Khatib, Marco Markovic, Residente among others.