Joussour Group is composed of a number of musicians, each of whom is from a different cultural background. Together, they aspire to present a diverse mix of music from Mesopotamia and the Levant, including folkloric, contemporary, instrumental and vocal pieces, and the various types and stages of oriental songs in general. Joussour employs a style which reflects the mosaic of these areas and its varied cultures and traditions. This is done using a new creative musical language which reflects their capabilities as musicians to perform various types and styles of music and expresses at the same time their renewed faith in their heritage and the importance of its interaction with contemporary musical genres.
The word ‘joussour’ means ‘bridges’ in Arabic, and because each group member hails from a different cultural background, each person is a musical ambassador for the others; and together, they hope to bridge each other’s varied histories as well as to present to their diverse audiences a rich and unique musical selection from their background. The group was established in 2007, and since its establishment, the group has performed several concerts inside and outside of Syria. Among the many places where Joussour Group has performed are Damascus Opera House, the National Museum in Damascus, Art House in Damascus, Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre), Qatar National Theatre in Doha, Arno Babajanyan Concert Hall in Yerevan, as well as Cairo Opera House in the context of the 19th Conference and Festival of Arabic Music. In 2009, Joussour won the Award for Outstanding Concerts from the city of Vendezor (Armenia). The group has built a reputation as one of the most important groups in Syria, due to its representation of the songs and cultures of the region.
Joussour Group’s first album was published in 2011 under the title “Places and Directions”. The album was made possible through the production awards program of the Belgian-Egyptian organization “Al-Mawred Al-Thaqafi”. The album is a lyrical musical journey to different places in Syria and the region. The group presents works from Arabic, Kurdish, Syriac and Armenian traditions, seeking to incorporate their ideas, visions and messages, and their talents as musicians. Their style varies and mixes between traditional oriental music, popular music, oriental jazz, and improvisation.
The Members of the Group:
Salah Ammo: bouzouq, vocals and director
Firas Hassan: percussion
Mizgin Mohamad: violin
Dima Mawazini: qanoun
Bassem Al Jaber: contrabass
George Oro: percussion
Mohamad Fityan: nay & kawlah
Walid Khataba: violin
Imad Morci: cello
Wessam Al Chaaer: accordion
Tammam Saeed: oud