Omar Bashir (musician)

This article is about the Iraqi musician. For the President of Sudan, see Omar al-Bashir.

Omar Bashir (Arabic: عمر بشير) is an Iraqi-Hungarian musician. He is the son of Munir Bashir, who is widely considered to be one of the most important virtuosos in the history of the oud and a master of the modal tradition of Arabic maqam.

Omar Bashir عمر بشير
The Crazy Oud 2010
Background information
Born	(1970-05-01) May 1, 1970 Budapest, Hungary
Origin	Mosul, Iraq
Genres	World music
Occupation	Musician
Instrument(s)	Oud, guitar, piano
Years active	1990s–present
Labels	EMI, INEDIT
Website	www.omarbashir.hu

Omar Bashir was born in Budapest in 1970, where he began playing the oud with his father at the age of five. He later attended the Baghdad Music and Ballet School and eventually formed his own ensemble, which toured many countries around the world. In 1991, he returned to Budapest and joined the Franz Liszt Academy.

Omar performed both as a soloist and alongside his father Munir until the death of Munir in 1997. Omar has toured many countries throughout his career and released more than 20 albums. His music blends traditional Arabic music and improvisation with other musical influences, such as jazz, flamenco music, and Hungarian Romani Music.

Musical works and performances

Solo Discography

Omar Bashir has released a total of 23 CDs as a solo artist, as well as several albums recorded with his father and other musicians. His album Crazy Oud was released in 2010 by EMI and topped the charts in several Arab countries. Below is a chronological listing of his solo discography:

• Music from Iraq - 1992
• Duet of the Two Bashirs: Munir and Omar - 1994, lauded by French papers as the "best musical performance" of its time
• From the Euphrates to the Danube - 1997, a fusion of oud and Western music. The title references the rivers near where he grew up and was born, respectively.
• Ashwaq - 1998, a solo oud performance
• My Memories - 1998, featuring oud and percussion instruments
• Flamenco Night - 1998, recording of Omar's last concert with his father before the latter's passing
• Al Andalus - 1999, pioneering combination of oud and guitar, produced by Shahin Production in Lebanon
• Zikrayati - 1999, meaning "my memories," performed on oud with percussion
• Live Solo Oud Performance - 2000, recorded in Beirut, Lebanon
• Maqam - 2000
• Sound of Civilizations - 2001, in Buddha Bar style
• To My Father - 2002, oud and percussion improvisations on pieces performed with his father
• Baghdadiyat with Shara Taha - 2002
• Gypsy Oud - 2003, blending oud with Hungarian Gypsy music
• Latin Oud - 2004, first rendition of Latin tunes on oud
• Oud Hawl al Alam ("Oud Around the World") - 2004, debuted live in Budapest, pioneering oud and guitar combination
• Crazy Oud - 2010, diverse styles including Iraqi maqam, rumba, flamenco, blues, ambient, classical, folklore, and improvisation
• The Platinum Collection - EMI 2011
• Masters of Oud - 2010, duets by Munir and Omar Bashir, released by EMI, including remixes "Baghdad Blues - Desert Launch", "Mesopotamix" and "Café du Paris"
• Takasim - 2012, solo oud recording produced by INEDIT Records
• The Legend Live Concert - 2015 Universal Company

Concerts and Tours

Arab Countries and America

Lebanon: Almadina Theatre - Beirut, Alhariri Theatre - Sajda Egypt: The Opera House in Cairo and Alexandria Syria: City Theatre, Mar Elyan Church & The International Festival Jordan: The Royal Theatre & Jerash Festival Tunisia: Al Mashtal Theatre, Ken Festival Morocco: Fes, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakesh, Tetouan, and Agadir. Oud Duo tour concert: Munir Bashir & Omar as well as solo oud performances in Mawazine Festival and Oud International Festival Algeria: National Theatre Palestine: Ramallah Popular Art Centre UAE: Dubai and Abu Dhabi: Islamic Music Festival and WOMAD Festival Bahrain: 5th Spring Cultural Festival USA: Toured extensively through various US states, including New York, Washington, Durham, Arkansas, Denver, and others. Performed at prestigious venues such as Cambridge Academy, Lincoln Jazz Theatre, Symphony Space, The Duke University, World Culture Museum, Kennedy Centre Canada: Montreal, Arab Music Festival (2008, 2015)

United States

Omar Bashir has performed extensively across various states in the United States, including New York, Washington, Arkansas, Colorado, and others. He has graced numerous prestigious venues such as the Cambridge Academy, Lincoln Jazz Theater, Symphony Space, Duke University, the World Culture Museum, and the Kennedy Center.