Discovering the Roots of Arabic Music with Oud Virtuoso Mohammed Dohai
Welcome to Episode 9 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo, who Jason calls “Frank,” and Jason Falls, who goes by “Falls” most of the time, as we explore the real roots of the music we love.
This is a special episode we’ve been hinting at for a while. In November of 2023, Falls traveled to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on business. While there, he reached out to Oud soloist and teacher Mohammed Dohai. The Oud is a traditional Arabic instrument dating back centuries that is a predecessor of the lute, mandolin and guitar. It is typically played with 12 strings, double strung like a mandolin, but has a deep, pear-shaped body, short finger board and angled capstan.
Dohai spent 10 years working as a civil inspector on engineering projects in the UAE but in 2015 transitioned to playing and teaching Oud full-time. He’s since become a frequent performer throughout the Arabic region, playing for large crowds, royalty and beyond.
He teaches Oud at Bait Al Oud, a prestigious international conservatory dedicated to the instrument in Abu Dhabi. He not only accepted Jason’s invitation to be on the podcast, but met him in person to talk about, show and play the instrument for Roots Music Rambler.
This episode is special for that and other reasons. Our journey to understand the roots of this Arabic instrument and one of its finest players is exactly why the podcast exists … to dig into the roots of music and musicians that a given place or time makes unique.
Frank and Falls also share their recent weekend that can only be described as Trucker-laden, Falls reveals his new S.G. Goodman-inspired tattoo, and the two share the music they’re listening to this week to help you know what Picks are making us Grin in the Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment.
Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.
Notes and links:
Roots Music Rambler on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/rootsmusicrambler/
Roots Music Rambler on TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@rootsmusicrambleon
Roots Music Rambler on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/RootsMusicRambler
Jason Falls on Instagram – https://instagram.com/jasonfalls
Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/workmomtravels/
Mohammed Dohai on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/mohammed_dohai/
Mohammed Dohai on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@mohammeddohai3962
The Oud on Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oud
A recent article about Mohammed Dohai – https://www.pressreader.com/uae/the-national-news/20210101/281642487792335
Bait Al Oud – International Conservator in Abu Dhabi – https://abudhabiculture.ae/en/experience/culture-centres/bait-al-oud
The Oud on Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oud
Em Royal on YouTube (our translator) – https://www.youtube.com/@emroyal5309
Jason’s new S.G. Goodman inspired tattoo – https://www.instagram.com/p/C0poMKmMdrd/
Cecilia Lynn (tattoo artist) on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/anarchynicolesmith/
Infinite Electric Tattoo on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/infiniteelectrictattoo/
Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations
Brigitte Calls Me Baby – https://www.brigittecallsmebaby.com/
White Reaper on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/75klPfIVnyYcyEGaicRUSF
Matt Anthony on WFPK – https://www.lpm.org/people/matt-anthony
Matt Anthony’s Record Shop on Instragram – https://www.instagram.com/record_shop
The Highwomen on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/7sGTt1N5XMIQPCYHAnO1Pl
Marcus King’s El Dorado on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/0twx7uqxPQtmtpeURTlZB0
Muddy Waters on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/4y6J8jwRAwO4dssiSmN91R
Mud Morganfield – https://open.spotify.com/artist/1MkszvLJgUVCskrRqCLbmn
Railbird Festival 2024 – https://www.railbirdfest.com/
Tanya Tucker Documentary on Netflix – https://www.netflix.com/title/81597694
And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! – https://gomuskox.com/rambler
Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.
Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum