Ziryab Trio consists of Taiseer Elias (oud), Nassim Dakwar (violin) and Zohar Fresco (percussion). "Mashreq Classics" was recorded live in the Jerusalem Theater during the Israel Festival in June, 1995. In this concert, the Ziryab Trio was accompanied by Avraham Salman (kanun) and Emmanuel Mann (bass) from their joined band Bustan Abraham. "Ziryab was a musician in Haroun Al-Rashid's court in Baghdad (Iraq) in the 9th century. He was called the 'Black Bird' and was an extremely gifted singer, oud player and composer .