The fear of repetition is probably what underpins Anouar Brahem’s entire recording career. “C’est ma hantise” (It’s my worst nightmare) said the Tunisian-born oud player in a recent interview. Since his début for the Munich-based ECM record label in 1991, the musician has performed in solo or shared the studio with a different formation on every […]
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Mohamed Abozekry & Heejaz Extended: Ring Road
Born in Cairo in 1991, Mohamed Abozekry is a young virtuoso on the oud whose intricate compositions borrow equally from the Arabic Maqam (the traditional system of modes and scales used in oriental music), blues, jazz and world music. Released in February 2015 last on the Jazz Village record label, Ring Road is the musician’s second […]
Anouar Brahem: Souvenance
Since the late 1980s and through an impeccable discography with the Munich-based ECM Record Label, Tunisian oud master Anouar Brahem has been flirting with jazz improvisation, fusion, modern classical or chamber music while recording solo, with small trio or quartet formations. Traditionally an accompanying instrument, the Arabic lute takes centre stage in the hands of […]
Anouar Brahem: Le Pas du Chat Noir
Introducing Le Pas du Chat Noir (2002), Tunisian oud master and composer Anouar Bahem notes that the music on the record emerged as A tempo passed on to me by the movement of a tree I could see from my window, swaying gently in the breeze. Anouar Brahem – Liner notes Since then, I have come […]
Dhafer Youssef: Whirling birds ceremony
Tunisian composer, oud player and singer Dhafer Youssef is a wandering musician constantly migrating from one country to another within Europe and North Africa, having lived and worked in Tunisia, France, Austria, Norway or Turkey over the years. Following up on the superb Abu Nawas Rhapsody (2010), Dhafer Youssef’s new album Birds Requiem reunites the […]
Dhafer Youssef: Les ondes orientales
Time Out provides an excellent introduction to Dhafer Youssef: “…the Tunisian vocalist and oud virtuoso juxtaposes the ancient, mystical, hypnotic music of Islamic Sufism with the textures of electric jazz.” While Dhafer Youssef’s electronic side is more evident in older recordings like Divine Shadows (2006) or Digital Prophecy (2003), the personnel he has assembled for the […]
