Loading ...Bassam Saba, Legendary Arab American Musician, Succumbs to Covid-19
On Friday, December 4th it was announced by the Lebanese National Conservatoire, “With a heavy heart, we are sorry to inform you all that our beloved Conservatory’s President Bassam Saba passed away at 11:40am Beirut time due to COVID complications.”
Bassam Saba, 61, was a world-renowned virtuoso, multi-instrumentalist, and leading figure of Arab music. He was a virtuoso of the nay, oud, violin, and was a graduate of the Lebanon National Conservatory. Saba toured extensively with Fairouz, as well as with Marcel Khalife, Simon Shaheen, Ziad Rahbani and also collaborated with pop stars like Yo-Yo Ma, Sting, Alicia Keys, Santana, and jazz icons such as Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones
Arab America president, Warren David said, “The Arab America family is saddened by the loss of Bassam Saba. To many of us in the diaspora, his music was a source of our connection to the Arab heritage.”
Saba co-founded the acclaimed New York Arabic Orchestra in 2007 with Arab percussionist and educator, Rachel Centrone. The orchestra united musicians from all walks of life around the love of Arab music.
The New York Arabic Orchestra issued the following statement:
“Today, we mourn the passing of Bassam Saba, musical virtuoso and composer, husband and father, multi-instrumentalist and educator, conductor and leader, mentor and inspiration. His unparalleled talent, generosity, kind and gentle heart, and youthful spirit has enriched thousands of lives around the world. (He) forever remained humble and loyal to his friends, students, and colleagues, and to working tirelessly to preserve and promote precious music and culture.”
Saba immigrated to the U.S. in the early 1990s when he met Simon Shaheen and toured with Shaheen’s Near Eastern Music Ensemble. Saba also joined Shaheen’s Arabic Music Retreat as an instructor. The retreat is considered the premier Arabic music program in the US.
The Arabic Music Retreat issued the following statement:
“We are devastated to report that one of our leading faculty members, nay and flute virtuoso Bassam Saba, passed away (from) COVID-19 complications. Bassam was a founding faculty member of the Arabic Music Retreat. His passing is a great loss not only to his family but to all those connected with the Arabic Music Retreat and Arabic music.”
Saba left the U.S in 2018 to take a prestigious position as director of the National Conservatory of Lebanon where he planned to build a bridge between the U.S. and the Middle East.
Arab America sends condolences to his family, the Lebanese National Conservatoire, and the New York Arabic Orchestra which has set up a GoFundMe account for Saba’s family and is planning a memorial service later in the year.
Compiled by Arab America
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