Cairo Steps released a new video of the performance of their original composition InFerag on YouTube and Instagram on Sunday. InFerag is one of the most recent compositions by Basem Darwisch, composed during the lockdown period due to COVID-19. As Darwisch explains under the video, InFerag means “Breakthrough in critical crises” reflecting the difficult times imposed on people around the world by the pandemic. Performing with the Cairo Opera Orchestra, the Cairo Steps concert took place as part of the Arabic Music Festival (1-10 November 2020) at the Nafura stage, Cairo Opera House. With the Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui, the concert features: Basem Darwisch (oud and composition), Sara Ahmed (clarinet), Wael El-Sayed (accordion), John Sami (nay), Hany El-Sawaf (req and duff), Rami Attallah (piano), Azeema (percussion), Kareem Hossam (e-bass), Mohamed Labib (saxophone), Ragy Kamal (kanoun), Jan Boshra (cello), and violins: Emad Azmy , Shereen Azmy, Shady Abdel-Salam, Nehad Gamal El-Din On 27 January, Cairo Steps released another track from the same concert, one of Darwisch's best known original compositions titled ‘Siwa', followed by the release of Bokra (Tomorrow) three days later. The band brings together numerous music genres — traditional Egyptian and Oriental grooves, Sufi traditions, Western classical music, European ethnic music, and jazz improvisation — into one melting pot. Founded in 2002 as a collaboration between Darwisch and German pianist Matthias Frey, Cairo Steps has performed extensively in Egypt and Germany, and on many other international stages. The band brings together numerous music genres -- traditional Egyptian and Oriental grooves, Sufi traditions, Western classical music, European ethnic music and jazz improvisation -- into one melting pot. The final blend is a unique combination of compositions from Eastern and Western musical cultures. In 2018, their album Flying Carpet was awarded the German Jazz Award Gold. One of the past Cairo Steps concerts held at the Cairo Opera House was among the most popular videos released by the culture ministry on its YouTube channel in April 2020. b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 15px;"For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArtsb style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 15px;" and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture
