Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    US employment cost index 3.6% up in year to June 2025    Egypt welcomes Canada, Malta's decision to recognise Palestinian state    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Sterling set for sharpest monthly drop since 2022    Egypt, Brazil sign deal to boost pharmaceutical cooperation    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Egypt exports first high-tech potato seeds to Uzbekistan after opening market    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Ziad Rahbani in Cairo for Jazz Festival
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 09 - 03 - 2010

Iconic Lebanese music composer Ziad Rahbani arrived in Cairo today to participate in the second Cairo International Jazz Festival. A press conference announcing the event was held at the Semiramis Intercontinental Cairo. Among the panel was Amro Salah, manager of the Egyptian Eftekasat troupe and organizer of the festival, as well as Rahbani, who will play for the first time in Egypt and is to be honored this year at the festival.
Rahbani, the son of Lebanese contemporary music legends Fairouz and Assi Rahbani, created a musical niche of his own with his rebellious tunes, satirical lyrics and political commentary, since first writing his musical, Sehraya, in 1973. A composer, pianist, performer and playwright, the musical icon will perform on the first night of the jazz festival (11-15 March).
During the press conference Rahbani, displaying his radiant wit and sense of humor, both of which are reflected in his music, noted that despite playing several types of music, his genre is commonly mistaken for jazz, to the extent that "we eat jazz and our color is jazz"--as if jazz is in fashion these days. Not only that, but he is often mistaken for playing oriental jazz: "Two words that are two mistakes: 'oriental' gives the feeling of tabla or orientalist misconceptions, and 'jazz' simply means cross-borders music," said Rahbani to the audience of journalists from across the world.
Asked how he viewed a campaign by Egyptian intellectuals to grant him Egyptian nationality, Rahbani smiled and said that since this is his first time in Egypt, maybe Egyptians should get to know him first. "It is true that I am a Rahbani and I am also Egyptian in culture at least, and I was raised with so many stories that had Egypt as their title. And as a musician I was affected by Sayed Darwish and other great Egyptian composers," said Rahbani, who went on to explain that there was a bond between the Rahbanis and Egyptian music icon Sheikh Said Darwish, whose music Rahbani grew up listening to.
Rahbani agrees that his involvement in politics might have cost him commercial success, but says he was never concerned with the commercial artistic scene. As for the golden era of music, Rahbani believes that this was during the seventies and that people are until now adapting the tunes of that decade.
Finally, Rahbani said that the real honor for him was acknowledgment by the media, which allows him to communicate with his audience. He concluded by saying that what encouraged him to participate in the jazz festival is the fact it stands against what is presented commercially, and in a manipulative way, as main-stream music. "But the public is much more refined [...] and this festival presents a much simpler and more genuine music," Rahbani said.


Clic here to read the story from its source.