Band fuses Egyptian music with US swing and jazz
1,789 views · Published 24 November 2018 · 3:18 · Indexed 16 October 2026
Channel: AP Archive · 2018 · News & Politics
(19 Nov 2018) LEADIN An Egyptian jazz band is performing jazz songs from the golden age of Arab cinema at a festival in London. The "Egyptian Jazz Projekt" mixes Egyptian music with American swing and jazz. STORYLINE The cool sounds of jazz and swing with a Middle Eastern twist. Singer Ahmed Harfoush and his band Harfoush Jazz Band are performing a blend of 1950s and 60s Egyptian pop songs from the golden age of Arab cinema, blended with the glitz and sound of American jazz. It's their latest project which they have named the Egyptian Jazz Projekt. They're on stage as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. Harfoush explains why they chose to perform music from this period: "Well the idea behind choosing that era, was because it was the romantic era. It was the time when melodies were beautiful, lyrics were beautiful," he says. In the 1950s and 1960s Egypt's movie industry became a focal point of Arab culture. Harfoush's musical and lyrical style pay homage to the stars of that period such as Abdel Halim Hafez, Mohammed Abdel Wahab and Shadia. "It's very in our brain, in our veins, everyone knows the songs. And they are quite iconic," says Harfoush. He adds that music from this time is still very moving for people: "We've got people crying, we've got people tearing up just from joy, people screaming after the end of a song, people singing along, people tapping along, some people get up to dance. It's very, very emotional and it's very emotional for me." Harfoush's unique fusion is the result of his time living in London and trying to make his way as a professional jazz singer. It was during this period of uncertainty that the singer developed a deep sense of longing for his homeland. The Egyptian Jazz Projekt is the result of his own cultural rediscovery. The band is being presented to London by Arts Canteen, the brainchild of Aser Al-Saqqa who hopes his Middle East inspired events can change perspectives on the region. "When people see things through these TV channels and all the political conflicts in the region, perhaps what Arts Canteen does is trying to change slightly this image." The band are playing to a mixed audience of jazz aficionados and expatriate Arabs in London's trendy Bethnal Green district. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/900f19fe5db69c4b84501121303bb398
