Maqam al-IraqMaqam al-Iraq

Hamid Al-Saadi, born in Iraq in 1958, is the last living master of the full Iraqi Maqam repertoire, a UNESCO-recognized tradition of sung poetry. This is his first album since 1999 and the debut release of Maqam Records. Al-Saadi, now based in Brooklyn, memorized all 56 maqams and was named the successor to grandmasters Yusuf Omar and Mohammed Al-Gubbanchi. Each track features a rhythmic intro, a maqam, and a pesteh, preserving and reviving this ancient musical heritage.