Al 'Azifoon (The Musicians) perform Classical Arabic Music from the Golden Age of Raqs Sharqi Al 'Azifoon performs classical and traditional Arabic music on traditional acoustic instruments: oud, qanun, tabla, dumbek, riqq.
Ahlan wa Sahlan wa Marhabba...Welcome!

Al 'Azifoon

Middle Eastern Classics


CONTACT Facebook ~ About ~ The Musicians ~ Arabic Instruments ~ Past Highlights ~ UPCOMING SHOWS ~ SONG LIST

Al 'Azifoon (a professional Arabic “Taht”) performs classical and traditional Arabic music in the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California.

In musical terms, "Taht" in Arabic refers to an classical Arabic acoustic musical chamber group.
Al 'Azifoon" in Arabic is a plural noun meaning “The Instrumentalists.”

Traditional acoustic Arabic instruments such as oud and qanun are the heart of Al 'Azifoon's authentic sound, including:
~ melody instruments, such as oud, qanun, accordion, and vocals; and
~ percussion instruments, such as riqq (Arabic tambourine), doumbek (also called: darbuka, dumbek, tabla), duff, mazhar and tabla baladi.

    Yosifah's Avci Kanun built by Ibrahim Avic of Avci Kanun Studio><BR>
<a href=Yosifah's qanun was built by Ibrahim Avci of Avci Kanun Studio
  • Learn more about the traditional Middle Eastern instruments played by Al 'Azifoon on our Instruments page.

Our repertoire includes works by great Arabic composers, such as Muhammed Abdul Wahab, Baligh Hamdy, the Rahbani Brothers, Said Darwish and many more, as well as traditional muwashahat, folk songs, and popular songs by artists such as Fairuz, Sabah Fahkri, Um Koulthoum,Warda and many others.

Al 'Azifoon's musical mission is to promote cross-cultural understanding, respect, and appreciation for Arabic music, dance, and culture through regular musical performances as well as special concerts and educational programs at public libraries and schools throughout the Greater Bay Area.

  • Learn more about Al 'Azifoon's musical content and the rich diversity of Arabic music on our About page.
  • Visit Al 'Azifoon's Musicians page to learn more about our musicians.
  • View our complete repertoire on our SONG LIST page, which includes MP3 samples of our live performances and other recordings, as well as links to video performances.

Al 'Azifoon performs regularly throughout the Greater San Francisco Bay Area.

Hire Al 'Azifoon

Contact Yosifah Rose to discuss live music by Al 'Azifoon for your event.
You can also contact us via our Facebook page.


Since 2005, Al 'Azifoon has performed traditional
classical acoustic Middle Eastern and Raqs Sharqi music
for private, corporate, and winery events with anywhere from 10-to-450 guests.

Planning a wedding? Our sister group Al 'Azifat is available with all female musicians to perform for ALL female family events such as bridal showers and henna parties.

Sorry, ABSOLUTELY NO bachelor or male-only parties!

Below are some photos of Al 'Azifoon in traditional Moroccan attire while performing
at a winery event in Sonoma County, CA in April 2020.
Al 'Azifoon members dressed for a Moroccan-themed winery event  in 2020 Nathan Craver of Al 'Azifoon dressed for a Moroccan-themed winery event in 2020

  • Visit our Upcoming Shows page for Al 'Azifoon's complete upcoming performance schedule.

Al 'Azifoon (Yosifah Rose Craver, Nathan Craver, Tim Bolling, Paul Ohanesian) at Al Masri Egyptian Restaurant in San Francisco, California, 2023
Al 'Azifoon Al 'Azifoon (Yosifah Rose Craver, Nathan Craver, Tim Bolling, Paul Ohanesian)
at Al Masri Egyptian Restaurant in San Francisco, California, 2023


Al 'Azifoon is on Facebook and YouTube!


The founding members of Al 'Azifoon, Yosifah and Nathan were featured in this
Contra Costa Times article dated July 21, 2011
about Al 'Azifoon's educational outreach performances of Arabic music in the Bay Area.

Yosifah (with qanun) and Nathan (with oud) practicing together at home.  Photo by Ray Chavez, staff photographer, Contra Costa Times.


Yosifah was interviewed by Scott Belding for ARTBEAT Video Magazine in March 2010
in a feature about the band Al 'Azifoon.
Watch this interview on YouTube!



Al 'Azifoon wedding ceremony performance and Zaffa, Napa, CA, July 16, 2006 Al 'Azifoon with Cynthia Rutherford at community performance, Rossmoor, October 9, 2011 Al 'Azifoon, Marrakech Restaurant, SF, CA June, 2006
Al 'Azifoon performance for World Dance Fitness Studio Hafla, April 4, 2009, San Anselmo, CA Nathan and Yosifah of Al 'Azifoon performing at El Morocco Dancers' Night on December 6, 2015 Al 'Azifoon, El Morocco Restaurant, Pleasant Hill, CA  December 16, 2012
These photos are from a Moroccan Bazaar-themed event at Robert Young Estates Winery, Geyserville, CA.
Photo-friendly camel, courtesy of Lyon Ranch, a Nonprofit Animal Rescue Organization in Sonoma, CA.
Clearly a very distinguished and gentleman-like camel!!  He lives with his other camel and animal friends at Lyon Ranch, a nonprofit animal rescue organization in Sonoma, CA.

Nathan plays solo oud while Yosifah Rose meets Cassy the Camel at
"On the Road to Marrakech" event at
Robert Young Estates Winery, Geyserville, CA in September 2007.
Al 'Azifoon with Helm performing at On the Road to Marrakech event at Robert Young Estates Winery, 4960 Red Winery Road, Geyserville, CA 95441 in September 8, 2007. Al 'Azifoon with Helm performing at On the Road to Marrakech event at Robert Young Estates Winery, 4960 Red Winery Road, Geyserville, CA 95441 in September 8, 2007.

Professional Raqs Sharqi performer Khalilah Samah performing with Al 'Azifoon, September 2007.
Khalilah Samah performing with Al 'Azifoon at On the Road to Marrakech event at Robert Young Estates Winery, 4960 Red Winery Road, Geyserville, CA 95441 in September 8, 2007.

Professional Raqs Sharqi performer Zahara with Al 'Azifoon and Helm September 2007.
Professional Raqs Sharqi performer Zahara dances to music by Al 'Azifoon with Helm at On the Road to Marrakech event at Robert Young Estates Winery, 4960 Red Winery Road, Geyserville, CA 95441 in September 2007.


Contact ~ UPCOMING SHOWS ~ SONG LIST