Makam Salam at 'Listen to the World'

We are thrilled to welcome the musical collective 'Makam Salam' to Listen to the World for a night of music and story, of light and hope. 

About Makam Salam
Makam Salam is a London collective of musicians from across the Middle East and its diaspora. Palestinian, Israeli, Iranian, Lebanese, Turkish, Kurdish and Jewish diaspora players, sharing one stage. Drawing on ancient folk traditions from all these heritages and adding their own contemporary jazz fusion twist, they create something new by fusing ancient cultural roots with a modern, forward-looking sound - bridging cultures figuratively and artistically.

Since 2024 they've sold out Stone Nest, PizzaExpress Jazz Club, Next Door Records and The Cockpit, played at Shambala festival, and are playing the EFG London Jazz Festival this November. For Listen to the World they bring an intimate six-piece set, moving between the meditative and the rhythmic, with a moment for everyone to sing together.

"The audience, myself included, was deeply moved; we laughed and cried together... for a moment, we felt hope."
Inna Schorr, Artistic Director, Stone Nest

Instagram @makamsalam | makamsalam.org | youtube.com/@makamsalam

The Collective

Tomer Eldor, keys and musical direction (Israel / UK)
Tomer Eldor is an Israeli jazz pianist, composer and musical director, blending jazz improvisation, Middle Eastern modes and vocal harmony. He has performed at the EFG London Jazz Festival and worked with artists including Noa, BENJA (Grammy winner), Ofri Nehemya, Seckou Keita and Tony Kofi. His sound is shaped by studies and performances across Latin America, India, Europe and the USA, and he has directed large ensembles since the age of 16.

Rita Issa, violin and voice (Lebanon / UK)
Dr Rita Issa is a Lebanese-British violinist and vocalist. She has collaborated with Trials of Cato (Best Album, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards), United Freedom Collective and others, blending sounds from British folk and across the SWANA region.

Daniel Gouly, clarinet (UK)
Dr Daniel Gouly is a composer, sound designer and clarinettist whose work bridges Eastern European, Mediterranean and diaspora traditions. As co-founder of the award-winning ensemble Don Kipper, he has toured internationally, alongside extensive theatre work across the UK.

Oliver Kourosh Rutherford, drums (Iran / UK)
Oliver Kourosh is an Iranian-British drummer and multi-instrumentalist who plays drums, piano, guitar, percussion and hang drum. He has performed at the Royal Albert Hall, Reading and Leeds Festivals, Ronnie Scott's and many of the UK's top stages.

Ofer Peled, ney, world flutes and saxophone (Jerusalem/UK)
Ofer Peled, is an acclaimed woodwind player and composter steeped in the Arabic and Turkish makam traditions. He has recorded and performed with Balkan Beat Box and Grammy winner Frank London, composed the music for the award-winning documentary '5 Broken Cameras', and today leads his own project, Sharquiah

Suna Alan, vocalist (Kurdish/UK)
Suna Alan is a London-based Kurdish Alevi singer rooted in the traditional Kurdish dengbêj (bardic) tradition and shaped by her upbringing in İzmir, Turkey. Kurdish folk songs are the heart of her work, alongside Armenian, Greek, Arabic, Sephardic and Turkish music. She has performed at the Southbank Centre and the Royal Albert Hall, was the sole musical performer at TEDx Cambridge in 2024. 

Listen to the World concerts - what to expect

Step off the busy London streets into an oasis of beauty and calm at St Ethelburga's Centre, nestled between corporate scyscrappers near Liverpool Street station. More than a concert, Listen to the World events are intimate evenings full of warmth and connection and where we often have a Q&A with the performers. Come with friends or come on your own. You may meet someone new in the audience, or simply enjoy your own company. Our performers may invite you to join them in song, sound or dance, and you can join in as much or as little as you like. We look forward to welcoming you!

We are immensely grateful to the National Lottery Arts Council England and to Tides Foundation for funding for this programme.