About Us
A group of professional musicians from Iraq and Spain, symbolizing the historical cultural exchange in Andalusia and the transformative arrival of Ziryab, which significantly impacted European art and humanity, with its influence still felt today.
The group, supervised by Iraqi musician Mustafa Zayer, performs his original compositions, including the Andalusian Bird project.
Band Members
Mustafa Zair
An Iraqi composer, has a private center in Baghdad for teaching the Oud, and has given numerous performances around the world. Recently, he launched The Peace Orchestra for the Iraqi Oud and is currently interested in the Andalusian Bird project with the Cordoba Band to promote the culture of the Oud and Arabic music and blend it with other cultures.
A double bass player and composer who has developed his artistic career alongside many great artists and has showcased his work across the five continents in the genres of pop, flamenco, jazz, and world music. He has over 20 years of experience as a musician in the field of sound recording. He has developed the use of the double bass in flamenco music, giving it a completely personal style. He is the author and producer of the children's story series "Músicas del Mundo" by Siete Leguas. He has many musical works and releases, such as "Aborigen" and "Karonte."
Jose Miguel Garzón
Mustafa Sabaa
An Iraqi percussionist and drummer residing in Spain, holds a diploma from the Institute of Musical Studies in Baghdad. He worked as a percussion instructor at the Institute of Fine Arts and has collaborated with prominent Iraqi artists such as Naseer Shamma, Mustafa Zayer, Sami Naseem, Furat Qaddouri, Omar Zeyad, and Laith Sidiq, as well as with the Iraqi Symphony Orchestra.
Manuel Cazas
A flamenco guitarist who started playing the guitar at the age of 16 then moved to Madrid to advance his career. He has worked with prominent flamenco artists and singers such as Pansequito, Cancanilla de Marbella, and Luis el Zambo. He has participated in numerous flamenco dance performances as a guitarist at the famous Amor De Dios flamenco school in Madrid and has performed on the most important flamenco stages in Spain.
At the age of eight, he began his classical music education, and after several years, he developed an interest in music that involved improvisation. He has worked as a clarinetist, saxophonist, arranger, and musical director with teachers such as Antonio Serrano, Bob Sands, Bandolero, Pablo Martín Caminero, Borja Barrueta, and Ernesto Aurignac. Additionally, he released his first album as a leader and composer, "Derroteros," in 2022.
Arto
A self-taught Flamenco pianist, graduated from the Conservatory of Music, Granada.
Maldonado has studied with Gloria Emparán, José Luis Hidalgo, Enrique Rueda, Luis Megías, Chano Domínguez and Albert Bover. He is considered one of the best contemporary pianists in flamenco. Maldonado is Granada borned musician with flamenco roots and gypsy heritage, such as Antonio Cujón, founder of Zambra Granaína style.
His musical background has been expanded with many other styles such as Classical music, Jazz, Afro-Caribbean, Indian, pop, tango, funk and also electronic music. All this builts up his own personal Flamenco language which is Flamenco Piano without guitar imitation, His role in the band is playing and singing as well.
