Lodge Room Los Angeles, CA
Contact: Chris Taillie, Shorefire Media - ctaillie@shorefire.com
Web: ibrahimmaalouf.com
Players: Ibrahim Maalouf, trumpet; Mihai Pirvan, saxophone; François Delporte, electric guitar; Arthur Caget aka NuTone, keyboards and computers
Teasing material from his latest artistic pivot, French Lebanese jazz artist Ibrahim Maalouf raised the roof at the last stop of his North American Tour. Known for his baroque playing, Maalouf introduced sprinklings of Arabic, Turkish, French, Cuban, Egyptian, and other sounds in an eclectic mix of powerful, full-body movement-inducing sound. Delivering full-out dancefloor bangers, melancholy horn ballads, and Cuban dance hall mixes that pulled you into a tribal flow, you were taken on a global audio/visual journey that included massive video screens streaming behind the band on stage.
Entrancing, captivating, and free, the live quartet—along with a special appearance from Maalouf’s 14-year-old daughter, Lily, who performed a powerful monologue originally from Sharon Stone—unveiled an engaging and very danceable, live club music feel. The energetic sound was interspersed with mellow, soothing, ethereal jazz magic, and dreamy guitar solos (François Delporte), with incredible trumpet skills from Maalouf joining the phenomenal horn runs from Mihai Pirvan, and fabulous effects from NuTone. There were multiple gorgeous displays of tight horn soli sections.
The moody, vibey space buzzed with passionate, cultured music buffs joining the engaged, happy staff to create a beautiful ambiance. It was clear from the moment you walked in that something special was about to unfold. Alternating between captivating trumpet solos and heavy rock sound with screaming guitar and dark broody keyboard sound, the show included multiple call-and-response moments with the crowd and created a palpable, uplifting sense of community all night.
The video montage unfolded with various snippets from around the world, including a historic American montage with hip-hop sound that included male and female A.I. vocalists on screen. The highlight of the night included a singalong to “Freedom,” an activist war cry that had the room thoroughly invested. From political messages, invitational cognitive dissonance around toxic leadership, and a loose exploration of the true price of freedom through frenetic odes to the current socio-political climate in the United States, Maalouf did not hold back in his beliefs, but was also gifted in his ability to unite the room. Unexpectedly innovative, authentic, and fresh.
