“Percussionists are usually like the mischievous kid in a band,” said Ahmed Bahaa, one of the members of the Percussion Show, a project by seven percussionists from different well-known bands from the Egyptian music scene. In elaboration, Bahaa explained that percussionists are infused with energy and have a playful tendency. He thinks that any percussionist would love to be in such a project. The Percussion Show was established in 2008 by fluke. The musicians were playing in the SOS music festival on the North Coast, when a friend suggested they all play together. Since then, the project has become official. Their music is a mixture of Latin, African and Eastern beats. “We are inspired by different beats from around the world,” said Bahaa. “We watch different videos on YouTube to learn different styles.” One of their masters, he says, is Giovanno Hidalgo,aka "Mañenguito", the Puerto Rican jazz percussionist and educator. They also study Cuban and Brazilian tunes. The band play the Cuban drums, the congas, the African skin-covered drum djembe and the cajon, a Cuban instrument that is also played in Spain. The band also uses tabla, dof and other Oriental percussion instruments. As percussion beats are deeply engraved in Egyptian culture, Bahaa says that their audience is growing rapidly. “We are the country of beats.” Interestingly enough, according to the Bamana people in Mali, the name of the djembe comes directly from the saying "Ankedjé, ankebé," which translates to "everyone gathertogether in peace." “Beats also emit this great energy.” Bahaa believes that positive energy is perhaps one of the major things in music. He notes that their concerts have become packed after the eruption of the revolution. “People want to release positive energy and shut out for a while what is happening in the political sphere.” The band, is not only experimenting with tunes. They also want to take the idea of performance to another level and start the idea of street performing in Cairo. Their first volume, which they have shot, was performed at the metro station. “At first people were not very keen on what we're doing but by the end they started showing interest and enjoying the music,” Bahaa said. The band was also one of the winners of the Production Awards Fund by the cultural organisation El-Mawred El-Thaqafy in 2010. With the fund, they are planning a big concert in 2012 that includes fireworks, light effects and a screen. “In Egypt, usually there is little thought given to show business,” said Bahaa. “Many bands leave work and go to perform in the same clothes.” Perhaps, with the exception of Crash Boom Bang, who perform covers from the 1980s and 1990s, bands do not pay heed to costumes and to the visual element of the show, but according to Bahaa, “we are trying to work on that.” As for the music scene as a whole, Bahaa believes that it is progressing. “The underground music scene now has a whole generation of musicians that are learning about what is abroad, whether it is rock, Latin or funk,” he said. One of the problems, he says, is the lack of a critical ear from the audience. The band usually performs in El-Sawy Culturewheel, Genaina Theatre in Al-Azhar Park, or Cairo Jazz Club. Their new show will take place on coming Thursday 10 November at 8:30pm at Azhar Park (Salah Salem road, El-Darrasa). Percussion show line-up: Ahmed Hesham, Ahmed Ali, Moe El-Arkan, Ahmed Bahaa, Shams, Bob, Mizo http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/26099.aspx
