Marwan Allam: a Tunisian gateway to modern jazz

Today, the Spotlight shines On bassist and composer Marwan Allam.

Marwan’s debut album, Bab Bhar, takes Arabic rhythms and Tunisian musical traditions and hands them to a jazz quartet, creating something that feels both ancient and brand new.

Marwan tunes and plays his bass to echo the sound of the gimbri, a traditional three-string instrument from his native Tunisia. He’s here to walk us through this groundbreaking approach and share how growing up at the crossroads of North African music shaped his creative path.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Marwan Allam’s album Bab Bhar)

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Dig Deeper

• Purchase Marwan Allam’s Bab Bhar on Bandcamp and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Follow Marwan Allam on Instagram and YouTube
• Music in Tunisia: Exploring 10 Rich Harmonies
• Experiencing Maqam: An Introduction to Arabic Music
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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