Presented in collaboration with the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, AFI brings the legendary, Baghdad-based Hamid Al-Saadi, the world’s foremost living performer of the Iraqi Maqam, to the Atrium stage on March 28th.  

Al-Saadi will be joined by Safaafir, the only U.S.-based ensemble dedicated to performing in the Maqam tradition. Leading the ensemble are U.S. born siblings Dena ElSaffar and Amir ElSaffar. For this particular performance, the centuries old Maqam will be fused with elements of jazz, classical, and other sounds of the Middle Eastern diaspora.  Find more details on the event webpage.  

Photography by Sachyn Mital