User:Sameer serhan/sandbox

Haytham Safia (هيثم صفيه) (born July 09, 1980) is an oud (an Arabic lute) virtuoso and a composer. He is a member of the group no blues.

Biography
Safia’s music colorfully sources itself from his rich cultural past: he was born in the Village of Kafr Yasif in Northern Galilee. A versatile and adventurous musician, Safia graduated from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dancein 2002. He turned to Europe, in particular, The Netherlands, for cross-cultural challenges, which included successful collaborations with the multinational band no blues.

Safia's oud playing is known for both its precision and experimentation, his unique combination of classical Western and Eastern instrumentation blends beautifully in a playful musically- styled “conversation,”.

Three years following his debut in the Netherlands, Safia created a well-admired solo album, U’D, which offers traditional Arab u’d phrasing alongside magical Maqams, his unique trademark which re-interprets much of the traditional melodic u’d repertoire. His u’d improvisatory passages taqasim exquisitely produced, are further embellished with his meditative signature. His revelatory Nahawand maqam track immerses audiences in a brilliant transcendent state. With a true contemporary and progressive approach to the u’d, Safia playfully manipulates recurring themes, underscoring traditional opening and ending phrasing.

Safia has released eight CDs, which produced stunning albums full of emotion ranging from contemplative to exuberant, and jarring to playful instrumentation as well has long established himself as a talented composer with a well-full of innovative ideas, exemplifying his gift for musical composition.

Discography

 * 2004 : U'D
 * 2005 : Farewell Shalabiye
 * 2006 : Blossom
 * 2007 : Ya Dunya
 * 2007 : Promises
 * 2008 : Lumen
 * 2009 : No Complication
 * 2010 : Hela Hela