Of his recent album, Iraqi Music in a Time of War, oud master Rahim AlHaj says, "To play music in a time of war is to connect, to feed people with hope; music joins people in their souls, and when this connection happens, peace, love, and compassion can fill the hands of humanity."

Rahim studied the oud (six-stringed lute), one of the principal traditional instruments of the Arab world, under famed musicians Munier Bashir and Salim Abdul Kareem at the Institute of Music in Baghdad. Forced into exile in 1991, he subsequently made a name for himself teaching and performing throughout the Middle East before relocating to New Mexico.

Rahim's lyrical compositions display a gift for musical storytelling and a subtle dialogue of Eastern and Western sounds. His music flows gracefully from high-spirited, virtuosic displays to delicately nuanced pieces, combining traditional Iraqi maqam (modes) with contemporary influences.

Rahim's work is also featured on a new Smithsonian Folkways CD, When the Soul is Settled: Music of Iraq.