Ibrahim Maalouf facts for kids

Ibrahim Maalouf (born November 5, 1980) is a talented musician from France and Lebanon. He is famous for playing the trumpet, producing music, arranging songs, and composing.

In 2022, Ibrahim Maalouf made history. He became the first musician from Lebanon who plays an instrument to be nominated for a Grammy Award. This was for his album Queen of Sheba, which he created with Angélique Kidjo. He received another Grammy nomination in 2023 for his song "Todo Colores."

Ibrahim Maalouf's Early Life and Family

Ibrahim Maalouf comes from a very musical and artistic family. His father, Nassim Maalouf, is also a trumpet player. His mother, Nada Maalouf, is a pianist. His uncle is the well-known writer Amin Maalouf. His grandfather, Rushdi Maalouf, was a journalist, poet, and music expert.

Ibrahim left his home country of Lebanon when he was a child because of the Lebanese Civil War. He grew up in Paris, France, with his sister Layla. He studied science and math in school until he was 17.

Learning to Play the Trumpet

Ibrahim started learning the trumpet from his father when he was just seven years old. His father had learned from a famous French trumpet player named Maurice André. Ibrahim learned many different styles of music, including classical, baroque, and modern music. He also learned classical Arabic music and how to improvise.

His father invented a special trumpet called the "quarter tone trumpet." This instrument allows musicians to play Arabic maqams, which are special musical scales used in Arabic music.

Teenage Years and Musical Journey

As a teenager, Ibrahim often performed with his father across Europe and the Middle East. They played classical music by composers like Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni and Johann Sebastian Bach. Maurice André, the famous trumpeter, encouraged Ibrahim to focus on music instead of science.

Ibrahim followed this advice and spent five years studying at the Conservatoire de Paris, a famous music school. He also started recording music with other artists. He later became a teacher and gave special music classes in the U.S. His first solo album, Diasporas, was released in 2007 on his own music label.

Composing and Collaborating

Ibrahim Maalouf has written music for many movies. He has also composed pieces for choirs and orchestras. He has worked with many famous musicians from different parts of the world. Some of these include Sting, Salif Keita, Vanessa Paradis, and Juliette Gréco. He also teaches improvisation at the Paris Regional Superieur Conservatory.

In 2008, Ibrahim performed in an opera called Welcome to the Voice in Paris. He shared the stage with Elvis Costello and Sting. Sting was so impressed that he asked Ibrahim to play on his album If on a Winter's Night....

Ibrahim started composing music when he was very young. His first band, Farah, played a mix of Oriental jazz. They used instruments like the saxophone, a Middle-Eastern flute called a ney, and Arabic percussion.

Musical Style and Inspiration

Ibrahim Maalouf's music is deeply inspired by his Arabic culture. However, he also blends in sounds from rock, electronic, and jazz funk music. He uses instruments like electric guitar, drums, and vibraphone to create his unique sound.

A documentary called Souffle! (Blow) explored how Ibrahim gets his inspiration. It showed his connection to his home country and how it influences his music.

In 2017, the legendary producer Quincy Jones noticed Ibrahim at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Quincy Jones now often promotes Ibrahim's music through his company. That same year, Ibrahim performed at the opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum.

Ibrahim has also used his music to honor important events. He played alongside Sting at the reopening of the Bataclan in Paris. He also paid tribute to the victims of the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks by composing a special song. In 2021, he played the French national anthem in front of the Eiffel Tower for a large TV audience.

In November 2022, he released his 16th studio album, Capacity to Love. This album features many different artists and celebrates the idea of inclusion.

Awards and Recognitions

Ibrahim Maalouf has won many awards for his music. Between 1999 and 2003, he won prizes in fifteen competitions around the world.

Some of his major awards include:

• First prize in the National Trumpet Competition in Washington D.C. in 2001.
• First prize in the Hungarian International Trumpet Competition in 2002.
• Instrumental Revelation of the Year at the French Jazz Music Awards in 2010.
• Best World Music Artist at the French Music Awards in 2014.
• Best Original Score at the César Awards in 2017 for his movie music.
• Nominated for a Grammy Award in 2022 for Queen of Sheba.
• Nominated for a Grammy Award in 2023 for his song "Todo Colores."

Honours

Ribbon bar	Country	Honour
	France	Knight of the National Order of Merit
	France	Knight of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres

Discography

Ibrahim Maalouf has released many studio albums. Here are some of them:

• Diasporas (2007)
• Diachronism (2009)
• Diagnostic (2011)
• Wind (2012)
• Illusions (2013)
• Au pays d'Alice... (2014) – a joint album with Oxmo Puccino
• Red & Black Light (2015)
• Kalthoum (2015)
• Dalida (2017)
• Levantine Symphony N°1 (2018)
• S3NS (2019)
• 40 mélodies (2020)
• First Noel (2021)
• Queen of Sheba (2022) – nominated for a Grammy Award
• Capacity to Love (2022) – includes the Grammy-nominated song "Todo Colores"

Images for kids

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  Ibrahim Maalouf performing

See also

In Spanish: Ibrahim Maalouf para niños

• Maalouf