Dhafer Youssef

Oud player, singer, and composer Dhafer Youssef leads his quintet on a mesmerizing journey through soundscapes that bridge East and West. Born in Tunisia, Youssef divides his time between Vienna, Paris, and New York, and his music reflects this global spirit. Rooted in the Arab musical and vocal traditions of North Africa, he masterfully fuses jazz, European classical forms, Turkish influences, and traditional Indian music into sensuous melodies and intricate rhythmic structures. 

With driving beats, experimental textures, and subtle electronic elements, his music captivates both jazz aficionados and younger audiences alike. Experience an evening of intensity, emotion, and the transformative power of sound. 

Dhafer Yousef

“Dhafer Youssef is one of the most important ambassadors of contemporary music, which fortunately escapes labels and fixed style designations. A delight for the ears.” - Edison Awards 2017

Dhafer Youssef is ‘the’ Tunisian oud master, vocalist, and composer born on November 19, 1967, in the Tunisian fishing village Teboulba. He grew up in a modest family, coming from a long line of muezzins. Mastering vocal potentials stands as a heritage and a family tradition.

At an early age, his grandfather introduced him to Quranic recitals in which he discovered his vocal potential. Dhafer started singing the songs played on his mother’s radio set. His mother’s kitchen became his first experimental laboratory. At the age of six, he discovered the resonance of his voice in his village’s Hammam. This fascinating discovery nourished his ardent juvenile curiosity: Young Dhafer discovered his favorite toy.

Moved by the child’s beautiful voice, the local muezzin encouraged him to carry out the call to prayer in the Mosque. Dhafer started this task with a very cheap plastic microphone. His voice flowed from the top of the minaret. There, he experienced his first encounter with an audience, a moment still engraved in his memory.

A few years later, Dhafer joined the local liturgical song troupe as a vocalist. Far from places of worship, Dhafer discovered a new toy at the youth center of Teboulba: the oud. This is also where he discovered electric bass and, more generally, the so-called “groove”. After that, Dhafer was selected to join the Tunisian National Troupe by Mesbah Souli.

Aspiring to explore new horizons, Dhafer Youssef left his home village for Tunis where he joined the musical conservatory at Nahj Zarkoun. Dissatisfied with the quality of teaching, he decided to leave for Vienna, Austria to complete his musical training.