A group of men and women pose together in a desert

Mohamed Abozekry

Cairo

Season 8: 2025

Season 4: 2018

Available September-October 2025

Limitless virtuosity with an unbridled imagination: this oud master musically interprets the boundless world around him.

The work of oud master and musical polymath Mohamed Abozekry resonates in time and of place, as he excavates and renews the deep frame of Egyptian classicism. With a new sextet featuring musicians working across and around two continents he continues to push the boundaries of what it means to be contemporary. Roh El Fouad (The Heart’s Soul), Abozekry’s fifth album, released in 2024, fuses oud, bass, drums, keyboard, percussion, saxophone, and vocals to form the latest chapter in Abozekry’s improvisational exploration of Egyptian music without a predetermined template.

“With brilliant, inventive virtuosity that goes far beyond technical mastery…in Roh El Fouad Abozekry’s compositions are interwoven with jazz, Arabic modes, and swirling ardor.” Le Monde, May 2024

Born in Cairo in 1991, Abozekry graduated at 15 from the Arabic Oud house in Cairo. He was the youngest oud teacher in the Arab world, and in 2009 was awarded first prize at the International Oud Competition in Syria. Later that year, began studying classical music composition. At the age of 18, he began splitting his time in France. The push-pull between his second home in France, and his native Egypt opened a door of inspiration for his work. The many artists he met traveling this path resulted in collaborations with jazz bands, Romani artists, classic orchestras, and electronic musicians. In 2017, following his interest in composing music for cinema, Mohamed Abozekry earned a Master’s in Music Film-Scoring (MAAAV) at Lyon II University, and began scoring films and TV shows. “I never move backwards, but in a circular motion and return to the place I started with more experience.”

Mohamed Abozekry sextet

Camille Maussion - Saxophone
George Nabil - Keyboards
André Segone - Bass
Ahmed Aly - Percussion
Kerdani – Drums
Mohamed Abozekry - Oud & Vocals & Compositions

Dynamic, distinctive and exhilarating work of boundless curiosity. What is most impressive, and ultimately most thrilling about the show was how distinctive and majestic Abozekry’s music is. The band were brilliant.”
ny music daily