Rabih Abou-Khalil was born in Lebanon and grew up playing the oud, but he explored the possibilities of classical flute when he studied at the Academy of Music in Germany. When Abou-Khalil returned to the oud he brought his training in classical and jazz music to bear on his playing, and developed a style that merged traditional Middle Eastern folk with improvisatory jazz techniques associated with the West. The artist’s stunning technique can be heard on numerous recordings, including 1992s BLUE CAMEL, 1994s ROOTS & SPROUTS, and 2004s MORTON’S FOOT. He has collaborated with the Kronos Quartet, Sonny Fortune, Howard Levy, and Steve Swallow, among others.