Ibrahim Maalouf at Rockhal

Ibrahim Maalouf’s father invented the quarter-tone trumpet, which can play the in-between notes of Arabic music. His son, born in Beirut, picked up the trumpet at seven and went on to win classical trumpet competitions while studying in Paris.

Ibrahim Maalouf plays the Rockhal Main Hall on Tuesday 30 March 2027. Doors at 19:00.

Maalouf plays a trumpet with a fourth valve, an instrument his father developed so that Arabic quarter tones could be played on it at all. That is the whole story of his music in one detail: two traditions on one instrument, and a body of work that runs from jazz to film scores.

A Main Hall date for an instrumentalist is unusual, and he is one of the few who can fill one. The seating plan is not stated on the listing.

Who is Ibrahim Maalouf?

Ibrahim Maalouf is a French-Lebanese trumpeter and composer, born in Beirut in 1980. Music runs in the family: his mother Nada is a pianist, and his father, trumpeter Nassim Maalouf, invented the quarter-tone trumpet, which can play the in-between notes of Arabic music. His uncle is the writer Amin Maalouf.

He left Lebanon as a child, grew up in Paris, picked up the trumpet at seven and studied at the Conservatoire de Paris, winning classical trumpet competitions along the way. He then built his own sound from jazz, pop, world music and improvisation, played with Sting, Amadou & Mariam and Matthieu Chedid, and has sold more than a million albums. On 14 July 2021 he played the French national anthem in front of the Eiffel Tower for some six million television viewers.

His records

• Diasporas (2007): the debut, on his own label, Mi’ster Productions.
• Diachronism (2009)
• Diagnostic (2011)
• Illusions (2013)
• Red & Black Light (2015)
• Kalthoum (2015): its tenth anniversary was celebrated on tour in 2025, with a stop at the Philharmonie Luxembourg.
• Queen of Sheba (2022): with Angélique Kidjo, and his first Grammy nomination.
• Capacity to Love: home of “Todo Colores”, with Cimafunk and Tank and the Bangas, his second Grammy nomination.

Pieces to know before the night: “True Sorry”, “Todo Colores” and “Au Revoir”, which he played at the BBC Proms with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Awards

• Victoires du Jazz, instrumental revelation of the year, 2010.
• César for Best Original Score, 2017.
• Four Victoires de la Musique, including one for his live show.
• Two Grammy nominations.
• Knight of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and of the National Order of Merit.

The 20 ans de live tour

20 ans de live ! celebrates two decades on stage with a tour that retraces his path, billed as a festive, immersive concert mixing jazz, pop, world music and improvisation. The run builds to a huge night at Paris La Défense Arena on 10 April 2027, planned for 40,000 people.