Drum Sheet – Ibrahim Maalouf – The Smile of Rita

“The Smile of Rita” is a track from Ibrahim Maalouf’s 2024 album Trumpets of Michel-Ange, released on August 29, 2024. Composed by Maalouf himself, the piece is part of a larger concept celebrating love, family roots, and heritage, particularly inspired by his Lebanese origins and by his youngest child, Rita. So there is both a personal and emotional context behind the melody.

In terms of how it came together compositionally, “The Smile of Rita” is arranged with Maalouf’s signature combination: trumpet in quarter-tones (allowing subtle microtonal expression), middle-eastern scales mixed with Western jazz harmony, and an ensemble of horns, guitars, and drums. The guitar parts are soft and melodic, sometimes picking or gently strummed, providing space for the trumpet to carry the emotional line. There is careful orchestration so that Maalouf’s trumpet, supported by the brass section and other textures, becomes the voice of the piece.

The drummer on The Smile of Rita is Julien Tekeyan. Tekeyan contributes drums as well as handclaps and background vocals. His role is subtle but essential: the drums there are not flashy, they aren’t about heavy fills or dominating grooves. Instead, they provide a warm, stable heartbeat—understated but deeply felt. The tempo allows for breathing room; the snare and kick are balanced so that the rhythm section supports the melody without crowding it. Cymbals or hi-hat accents are used gently, to lift transitions or bring color at moments when dynamics rise.

Live, “The Smile of Rita” has been part of Maalouf’s Trumpets of Michel-Ange Tour, played in large venues like London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire and in Paris at l’Olympia. On stage, the drums tend to expand a bit more: the dynamics are more marked, spaces between notes matter, and the drummer pushes slightly to ensure the rhythm resonates throughout the concert hall. The audience also often participates, with handclaps or vocal ambient support during quieter sections, increasing the emotional connection.

For a drum enthusiast, “The Smile of Rita” is a strong example of how restraint and taste can be as powerful as virtuosity. Julien Tekeyan’s performance shows how percussion can be emotional without overwhelming the notes — how rhythm can sketch contours of feeling: gentleness, anticipation, peace. The way the song builds—soft beginnings, expressive trumpet lines, then slight surges in energy—demonstrates that the drum’s job is often to serve the mood, not to draw attention.