Arab Music from Iraq: Rahim Alhaj, 'ud; Souhail Kaspar, percussion

Iraqi-born musician Rahim Alhaj earned a Grammy nomination in 2008 for his CD When the Soul is Settled: Music of Iraq, released on the Smithsonian Folkways label. He studied at the famed Baghdad Conservatory under the late Munir Bashir, who was perhaps the greatest 'ud master of the twentieth century. Since arriving in the United States in 2000, Alhaj has released three more CDs, including one for 'ud and string quartet. Legendary jazz guitarist Bill Frisell calls Aljah's music "beautiful, mysterious, and powerful."