Naseer Shamma Quartet

One of the world's pre-eminent oud players and composers, Naseer Shamma brings his quartet to the Barbican in a performance titled Spirits. Combining the sounds and musical heritage of Persia, South Asia, Pakistan and Europe, Spirits features oud, guitar, sitar and tabla.

Born in Al-Kut, a southern city in Iraq, Naseer's lifelong dedication to the oud has seen both him, and the craft of his instrument, rise to international distinction. Graduate of the Baghdad Academy of Music, he was awarded the prize of artistic excellence by the Arab Thought Foundation and named as a UNESCO Artist for Peace. Naseer's acclaimed approach to playing the oud, which spans both ancient and comtempory techniques, has become the foundation of renowned ensembles and projects, including Cairo's House of Oud and Oyoun, the prominent Arabic chamber music ensemble.

For his quartet, Naseer has recruited Shahbaz Hussain, a tabla virtuoso of his generation with accolades to his name including the prestigious Son of Lahore Award from the Government of Pakistan in 2008. Ashraf Sharif Khan alos features within the line-up; he is the third son of the Asian sitar master Ustad Muhammad Sharif Khan Poonchwala and an acknowledged prodigy since the age of eleven. Completing the quartet is Spanish guitarist Carlos Pinana, whose family surname has become synonymous with the great flamenco tradition; his grandfather, Antonio Pinana, the patriarch of the "cartes mineros" and his father and teacher, the distinguished Antonio Pinana.

On sale to Barbican members on Thursday 7th December
On general sale Friday 8th December
Produced by the Barbican in association with Marsm