CAIRO: Egypt's rising Latin band, MAMAS, started out two years ago when Mohammed Gaby called up his childhood friend Ahmed Hany and asked if he was interested in forming a band. "Right away I told him I was in and we started having auditions and getting interested musicians, Ahmed Hany, MAMAS member told The Daily Star Egypt. The name MAMAS comes from the first letters of the band members' names: Mohammed Gaby, the vocalist; Ahmed Hany, on bass guitar; Mohammed Samy, on violin; and Ahmed Badry, on percussion. When the band first started out they played a variety of styles of music, including jazz, but they eventually settled on Latin and it has become their "specialty, said Gaby, adding that there were not many Latin music bands in Egypt. At their concerts, the band plays a mix of Arabic music with a Latin rhythm and beat, all of which are their own compositions, alongside other Latin classics like "Guantanamera and "Sway. The band does not prepare a program for their concerts, outlining the songs they will play beforehand. "We just go with the flow and play what we find suits the present audience and other requests made by them, said Hany. Last week, MAMAS gave a remarkable performance at their last concert at El Sawy Culture Center, getting the audience in the Wisdom Hall swaying and clapping all night. "I love to sing songs about life and current events happening around the world, explained Gaby, "it makes my music purposeful. The concert opened with Gaby expressing his regret over current events in Lebanon and sang one of his latest songs, dedicated to the people of Lebanon. Later on in the concert he sang another song dedicated to the children of Palestine. "They are great as ever, I love their new songs! exclaimed Amina Ahmed, a university student who is always keen to attend MAMAS concerts. Latin dance instructor Mourad Abdallah and his partner Heidi added excitement to the show with their astounding performance to classics including "Sway. At a previous concert, Abdallah was among the audience but couldn't resist the music and came up on stage and danced to delighted applause making Gaby seek him out to convince him to perform with them. "This was our first concert together but I hope this teamwork between us and Mourad would continue, said Gaby. MAMAS play their original songs during concerts, but they have yet to record an album. "I hope someone listens and makes us an offer, said Gaby.
