Dhafer Youssef first revealed his undying passion for music in the 1970s, when he built and oud (Arabic for wood) from driftwood and other treasures found on the beach; for Dhafer, who was born in Téboulba/Tunisia in 1967, this was the only way to get hold of an instrument at the time. The oriental short-necked lute has been the instrument of choice of the self-taught singer, composer and virtuoso Dhafer Youssef ever since. At the age of 19 he moved to Vienna, where he was introduced to musicians from various genres and to the jazz scene. A lucky break came when the Viennese jazz club Porgy & Bess offered him the opportunity to play whatever and with whomever he wanted once a month. These collaborations with a wide range of musicians resulted in »Malak« the first of eight albums to date, which also include »Electric Sufi«, »Digital Prophecy«, »Divine Shadows«, »Sound of Mirrors« and most recently »Street of Minarets«. Dhafer Youssef captivates audiences and critics alike with his extraordinary musical skills: Not is he a virtuoso on the oud with his experimental and poetic style, he also conjures up a magical atmosphere with his voice, which ranges several octaves, from gentle, almost meditative sounds to haunting, ecstatic high notes. His ability to convey great emotional depth with his voice makes him an instantly recognisable artist. At the Musikfest Bremen, he will demonstrate his art of building musical bridges, his distinctive, intangible blend of oriental music and modern jazz for the fifth time, accompanied by some of the world’s most renowned jazz musicians.

Dhafer Youssef oud and vocals
Mario Rom trumpet
Mark Priore piano
Swaéli Mbappé bass
Tao Ehrlich drums