This veteran Lebanese master of the oud must be doing something right. He's been banned in Tunisia, denounced by the Bahraini parliament, put on trial for using the Koran in a song, and protested against over his support of the rights of Palestinian refugees. Muslim, Christians, and Jews alike have taken issue with his outspoken advocacy of free expression. But in 2005 UNESCO named him an International Artist for Peace, recognizing the passion, beauty, and truths of his music that have made him the most respected singer and composer in Lebanon. On his new CD, "Taqasim," Khalifé lets his fingers do the talking on his Arabic lute, translating the poems of Palestine's Mahmoud Darwish and other Arab writers into gorgeous instrumental meditations. He'll be accompanied at Berklee by the Al Mayadine Ensemble. 8 p.m. $36-100. Berklee Performance Center,136 Massachusetts Ave., 617- 747-2261. ticketmaster.com
WORLD MUSIC
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