Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series. In this episode, we sit down with Chicago-based, award-winning Palestinian-American composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist Wanees Zarour to discuss his powerful new 2026 album Silwan and a life devoted to music. Deeply rooted in the traditions of maqam and jazz, Wanees has developed a compositional voice that transcends borders, blending Arabic, jazz, classical, and global music traditions into a bold and cohesive musical language.
Born into a family of musicians, Wanees began his classical violin training at the age of seven, quickly advancing through the repertoire. Today, he serves as Director of the Middle East Music Ensemble at the University of Chicago, where under his leadership the group has grown into an 85-piece orchestra performing Turkish, Arab, and Persian music to sold-out audiences.
This conversation explores the making of Silwan, the role of maqam in contemporary jazz, cross-cultural composition, and the power of music to bridge worlds.
🎧 Get the album Silwan and learn more:
https://waneeszarour.com/
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