Dudu Tassa and Jonny Greenwood Open Jerusalem Oud Festival with Unique Arabic-Language Ensemble
Dudu Tassa and Jonny Greenwood opened the Jerusalem International Oud Festival with a unique Arabic-language concert, blending regional traditions with intimate ensemble performance.
The recent performance by Dudu Tassa and Jonny Greenwood at the opening of the Jerusalem International Oud Festival delivered a striking and unconventional musical experience. Held at the Jerusalem Theatre under the artistic direction of Effi Benaya and produced by the Confederation House, the concert brought together a unique ensemble performing songs entirely in Arabic from regional traditions and Tassa's acclaimed 'The Kuwaitis' project. Rather than relying on their superstar status, Tassa and Greenwood deliberately stepped back to function as equal members of a larger collective, featuring guest vocalists from Nazareth and Baghdad.
Throughout the evening, the performance maintained a remarkably restrained and egalitarian tone. Tassa kept his stage banter to a minimum, while Radiohead guitarist Greenwood remained silently and deeply focused on his instrumentation. Songs were introduced not by the artists themselves, but through a pre-recorded voiceover entirely in Arabic, avoiding theatricality or emotional manipulation. The arrangements stayed true to traditional rhythms and melodies, celebrating the sheer achievement of bringing such a diverse collaboration to a packed Jerusalem audience.
Yet, this deliberate restraint occasionally created a sense of emotional distance. Especially in the opening segments, the music felt somewhat subdued, failing to fully fill the expansive hall as Greenwood's signature sonic textures were sometimes buried in the mix. However, the guest vocalists, Qarar Al-Saadi and Giana Nahf, effortlessly bridged the gap. Their heartfelt, unpretentious performances anchored the evening, transforming the high-profile collaboration into an intimate gathering that resonated deeply with the audience.
Reflecting Tassa's dual artistic identity—balancing his poignant solo Hebrew albums like 'Ai' with his profound archival work preserving Iraqi-Jewish musical heritage—the concert stood as a rare cultural statement. Despite moments of sonic distance, Tassa and Greenwood offered the audience a poignant hour and a half of grace and musical dialogue that feels exceptionally rare in today's cultural landscape.
