CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - FINAL DAY

The first of the last two picks of this festival is a Turkish movie about an unscrupulous politician. In competition at Cannes, "Three Monkeys" received good reviews. It seems to be a bit on the rough side and slow but still worth seeing for many. "Three monkeys" will be screened today, Sunday, November 28 at Metro Cinema at 9:30 PM. You can read a review here


"The Night of the Innocents" is a Cuban movie about a young man who lands, severely beaten, in an hospital in Havana on the night of December 28 (hence the title). It will be screened at the Nile City 1 Cinema at 9:30 PM. You can read a review here

And one last tip: if you haven't seen it yet, do not lose last opportunity to see the Italian movie "Gomorra", showing at 9:30 at the Nile City 2 Cinema.

Full program of the last day of the Festival at http://www.cairofilmfest.org

AGENDA MUSIC NOV. 29 - DEC 5

Saturday, November 29, 2008

- Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andreas Spörri with soloist Mohamed Hamdy (Clarinet) presents works from Rossini, von Weber, Rachmaninov and Brahms in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- The Egyptian Philarmonic Society conducted by Ahmed Al-Saedi with soloist Laura Mikkola (Piano) presents works from Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert at the Manasterly Palace 8:00 PM

- Anoushka (The famous Egyptian singer of Armenian descent presents a repertoire of Arabic songs) in the Wisdom Hall of El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM

- The Cairo Opera Company presents “The Medium”, opera by Gian Carlo Menotti at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

Sunday, November 30, 2008

- AUC Chamber Singers Recital conducted by John Baboukis in the Art Gallery of AUC New Cairo Campus 7:30 PM

- The Arab Music Heritage Ensemble conducted by Farouk El-Babli at the Arabic Music Institute at 22, Ramsis St. 8:00 PM

- Bashir at After 8 10:00 PM

- El-Nil Troupe for folk instruments (Folk music and songs) at Beit Al-Suheimi 8:00 PM

- The Cairo Opera Company presents “The Medium”, opera by Gian Calrlo Menotti at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

Monday, December 1, 2008

- Screwdriver, 19^th Band and Nagham Masri at the Cairo Jazz Club 9:30 PM

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

- Cairo Opera Company accompanied by the Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui performs “La Bohème” by Giacomo Puccini in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- The Religious Song Ensemble conducted by Essam Abdel Moneim celebrates the Season of Hajj in the Small Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

- Cairo Opera Company accompanied by the Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui performs “La Bohème” by Giacomo Puccini in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Chamber Wind Ensemble conducted by Mohamed Hamdy plays music by Dvorak, R. Strauss and Abdel Rahim in the Small Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Mazaher Ensemble (Music of the Delta) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM

- Osiris Singers in concert in the Ewart Memorial Hall of AUC Tahrir Square Campus 8:00 PM

- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM

Thursday, December 4, 2008

- Cairo Opera Company accompanied by the Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui performs “La Bohème” by Giacomo Puccini in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- AUC Arab Music Ensemble conducted by Wael El Mahawally in the Art Galler of AUC New Cairo Campus 7:30 PM

Friday, December 5, 2008

- Cairo Opera Company accompanied by the Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui performs “La Bohème” by Giacomo Puccini in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- City Band (Contemporary Egyptian Songs) in the Wisdom Hall of El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL DAY 9

Today I chose two beautiful movies about women. My first pick of the day is an Award winning Spanish movie called "La Soledad". It is a no-frill portrait of women's life in present day Spain with a terrorist bomb thrown in to add further misery to their life. You can read a review here. La Soledad (Solitary Fragments) will be screened today, Thursday, November 27 at the Galaxy Cinema 7:00 PM



The second pick of the day is about the remarkable life of a woman born in the mid 19th century with exceptional artistic skills discovered by accident by an art dealer who employ her as maid. All seems set for an happy ending, but ... "Seraphine", a moving French movie about art and feelings will be screened at the Good News Cinema inside the Grand Hyatt at 12:00 AM and 6:30 PM



Full festival program at http://www.cairofilmfest.org

CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL DAY 8

Today you have a chance to see one of the best and most controversial Egyptian productions of the year. "Fawzeya's secret recipe", who participated in the Middle East Film Festival in Abu Dhabi, winning a prize for best actress, will be screened tonight, Wednesday, November 26 at 9:00 at the Good News cinema, inside the Grand Hyatt. For a review of the movie, click here


As for the second pick, I suggest a movie that has, on the surface, little to do with Egypt or the Arab world, ... but only on the surface. "Battle in Seattle" is a movie about the clashes (and what lies beneath) that marred the WTO meeting there in 1999. A political movie with a good cast (Charlize Theron is also there), it has been very well received by the public in the US and has been warmly recommended to me. "Battle in Seattle" will be screened at the Nile City 1 at 9:30 PM. To read a review, click here


Full festival program at http://www.cairofilmfest.org

CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL DAY 7

If you are landing on this blog these days for the first time, you might think that this is all about movies. Well, in fact it is not. Everybody who knows me and my blog knows as well that I am a musicophile (as Oliver Sacks would put it), hence the presence from the very beginning of the Weekly Agenda for Music, and - sadly -the delay in posting a Weekly Agenda for Figurative Arts (but it is coming).
Thing is, it is the film festival that rules for these ten days and the offer on the musical side is somehow scarce. I remind you that you can always access the latest weekly agenda for music from the link on the top right of the page.

And now to the two picks of the day. Whenever it makes sense, I tend to favour movies from the area or movies that are dealing with topics that are of more specific interest to somebody living in this part of the world, to enhance knowledge and understanding. The first pick of the day is a Turkish movie that deals with honour killings. "Hidden Faces" (you can read a review here) will be shown at Nile City 2 cinema today Tuesday, November 25 at 7:00 PM


The second pick of the day is a relatively old (1993) Mexican movie who has won several awards and is considered a masterpiece of Mexican Cinema. "The Beginning and the End" by Arturo Ripstein is a drama about the struggle against poverty of a middle-class family after the death of the family's breadwinner. If you are asking yourself what's the connection, well, it is an adaptation of the book with the same title from the great Naguib Mahfouz. "The Beginning and the End" will be screened at the Good News cinema inside the Grand Hyatt at 9:00 PM


Full program of the festival at http://www.cairofilmfest.org/default.aspx

CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL DAY 6

Only one pick today because I did not find anything else that I knew or heard about worth mentioning. "Shoot on Sight" is a British thriller about a police officer of Pakistani origin asked to investigate the police shooting of a terrorist suspect in the London underground (sounds familiar?). Predictably the movie has attracted mixed reviews. Today Monday, November 23 at 7:00 at the Cosmos 2 Cinema* you can decide for yourself.
To go to the movie website, click here and for reviews, here


Full festival program at www.cairofilmfest.org

* The Cosmos cinema is at 12, Amad El-Din St., Downtown

CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL DAY 5

A quiet yet emotionally intense movie about human relationship, is my first pick of the day. The Spanish/Polish production "Awaking from a dream" will be shown today, Saturday, November 23 at 4:00 PM at City Stars 1 Cinema. Click here to go to the movie's website, and here for a review of the movie.
And if you have the afternoon free, do consider to stay for the next movie at the same cinema, Almodovar's wonderful "Volver", with Penelope Cruz, starting at 7:00 PM.


And a deeply introspective movie about an old Indian Shakespearean actor coming to term with the passing of time is my second pick. "The Last Lear" will be shown at 6:30 Pm at Good News Cinema. Click here to go to the movie's website and here for a review


Full program of the festival here

CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL DAY 4

A wonderful, bittersweet portrait of life in Ramallah, as experienced by a taxi driver who in reality should be a judge. Selected for taking part to the San Sebastian Film Festival, this is considered one of the best Palestinian movie ever. Showing today, Saturday, November 22 at Good News 3 Cinema at 4:00 PM. Read a review of the movie here


Well, I am sure there must be some other good films worth watching today, but browsing through the list there was nothing that attracted my attention.
And I admit I am in a bit of a hurry, it's European Charity Bazaar day at the Nile Hilton.

CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL DAY 3

"Ma Salama Jamil" is a Danish movie written and directed by a Palestinian-Danish man, about the struggle of a young man who refuses to be a pawn in a game he does not want to play . By the way, the boy is an Arab, and is name is Jamil, and he lives in Scandinavia. I haven't seen it but it is considered a very inspired and inspiring movie. Showing Thursday November 21 at Nile City 1 Cinema at 1:30 PM and at 5:30 PM in the Small Theatre of the Cairo Opera House. Click here to go to the movie's website and here to read a review


"Basra" is an Egyptian movie by Ahmed Rashwan about a photojournalist in the city of Basra shortly before the US-UK strike against Iraq. The leading role is played by Bassem Samra (Yacoubian Building), one of the best Egyptian actors around. For me, that's enough to qualify for today's second pick. Showing at the Good News cinema at 4:00 PM


Click here to go to the Festival website for the full program

AGENDA MUSIC Nov. 22 - Nov. 28

Saturday, November 22, 2008

- Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Christoph Müller, with Karim Samir Saleh (Violin) presents works from Glazunov, Mendellssohn and Brahms at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

- Nagham Masri at the Cairo Jazz Club 10:00 PM

- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM

- STOMP in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

Sunday, November 23, 2008

- Al-Hadrah Troupe (Sufi and Religious singing) at the Qubbet Al-Ghouri 8:00 PM

- STOMP in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Black Theama and Massar Egbari double bill concert in the River Hall of El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:30 PM

- El-Nil Troupe for folk instruments (Folk music and songs) at Beit Al-Suheimi 8:00 PM

Monday, November 24, 2008

- Wust El-Balad at After 8 10:00 PM

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

- Cairo Choral Society will be singing Haydn’s Mass in Time of War, Beethoven Choral Fantasy and pieces from Handel’s Messiah in the All Saints’ Cathedral in Zamalek (behind the Marriott Hotel) 8:00 PM

- Salma El-Assal (Sudan/Traditional Sudanese songs) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

- Cairo Choral Society will be singing Haydn’s Mass in Time of War, Beethoven Choral Fantasy and pieces from Handel’s Messiah in the Ewart Hall of the American University in Cairo (Downtown Campus) 8:00 PM

- Mazaher Ensemble (Music of the Delta) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM

- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM

Thursday, November 27, 2008

- Abdel Halim Nowera Ensemble for Arab Music conducted by Salah Ghoubashi (Classical Arab songs) at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

- Egoz (Rock) at the Cairo Jazz Club 10:00 PM

- Sahra (Rai music) at After 8 10:00 PM

Friday, November 28, 2008

- …. maybe you should consider going for a movie given that it’s the last night of the Cairo International Film Festival :-))

CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL DAY 2

Roberto Saviano is a young Italian journalist/writer who wrote a book, "Gomorra", which has made him one of the most sought after figures in the Italian artistic scene, and, sadly, in others much less flattering and glamorous quarters. The book turns upside down the world of the Camorra, the Napoli-based organised crime syndicate. Saviano is presently under a police protection scheme and his whereabouts are unknown; some claim he may not even be in Italy anymore.
Matteo Garrone has made a movie out of this book, a movie that has received enthusiastic reviews, both in Italy and abroad. This is my first pick of today Thursday, November 20, 2008, showing at 12:00 AM (ouch!) at the Good News cinema inside the Grand Hyatt. Find out more here


Ken Loach has made some wonderful movies. Most, if not all, have explored the impact that society has on human beings of all walks of life. An explorer of the "common man" daily struggles, he delivers us, with "It's a free world", another masterpiece. That's my second pick of the day, showing at the Good News Cinema inside the Grand Hyatt at 9:00 PM. To know more click here

RANIA SHAALAN - LIVE

I know it is really short notice, but I just got it now!
Rania Shaalan, one of the nicest Egyptian voices and definitely one of Egypt's best songwriters, is playing tonight, Wednesday, November 19 at 8:00 PM in the Ewart Hall of the American University in Cairo.
She is really good, so, if you get the chance, go and see the concert.

You can read about her in this excellent article of the Daily Star and listen some of her songs following this link

CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL DAY 1

My personal highlights of today, Wednesday, November 19, 2008 are Pedro Almodovar’s VOLVER, with Penelope Cruz (showing at 9:00 PM at the Galaxy in Rhoda island). If you want to know more about the movie, clic here

and Sean Penn’s INTO THE WILD, with Eddie Vedder’s magnificent soundtrack (showing at 9:00 PM at the Good News Cinema inside the Grand Hyatt). More about the movie here

For the full festival program: http://www.cairofilmfest.org/cinema/cinema.aspx

STOMP in Cairo

STOMP is here. The choreography and percussion sensation show is visiting Cairo for the first time. For some, it is the event of the year.
I originally thought I would not post anything about the show because of the bizarre marketing strategy of the organizers who initially gave the impression that tickets were offered only to selected groups of people (incidentally, the Cairo Opera House posted the event in its website as a “private event”), then made purchase possible through telephone numbers (02 27390144/132), and now, it seems, have finally given the possibility to buy tickets directly at the COH ticket counters, like for any other public performance held there. I also heard that a ticket is going to blow a hole in your wallet; I do not know, and honestly … I’ll leave it to you to find out if you are interested.

STOMP will perform in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House from Thursday November 20 to Sunday, November 23 8:00 PM.

To find out more about STOMP, you can visit http://www.stomp.co.uk/

JAZZ FACTORY, CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL & TOWNHOUSE GALLERY

The JAZZ FACTORY is over. From a spectator’s point of view it has been a success. If we put aside a couple of blunders (not having properly advertised the opening night as invitation only and the last minute change of venue of the Siwan concert), we have witnessed good quality performances, good acoustic, shows starting in time and keeping to the schedule, a good atmosphere and, last but not least, the great results of the “RemixPlus project”. Good job and thank you to all involved. One last thing: will we ever see a CD production of the Festival? It would be very nice.

The CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL will start on November 18. This time we know very well that the opening night is invitation only, but the following days will offer a myriad of opportunities to see good cinema at several venues around town. I will try to signal what I consider the highlights, but the program is so vast that I suggest you check regularly the Festival’s website. To do so, click Theaters in the Home Page and select a venue.

And to keep you “warm”, why not heading this evening, November 16, 2008 downtown to the Townhouse Gallery on Champollion St. for the “Intoxications” visual trip? At 7:00 PM Nat Muller will present three short movies from Lebanon, France and the Netherlands about intoxications of various kinds. See http://www.thetownhousegallery.com/main7.html for more info

"JAZZ FACTORY" - FINAL DAY

The following artists will be performing tonight Friday, November 14, 2008 at the Amir Taz Palace starting at 7:00 PM. Free admission

Alex Wilson (UK)
As a composer, arranger, performer and educator, Alex Wilson is one of the UK’s foremost Latin music producers. He has travelled over fifty countries to perform music in a multitude of projects. In 1993, after gaining a degree in Electronics and Computer Engineering from the University of York, he embarked on a professional career as a pianist, being snapped up to perform and record with several important artists. Of his five solo albums, his latest, Inglaterra, has been a worldwide hit on the salsa scene.
As a composer and musical director Alex has attracted commissions from NITRO (Britain’s leading black theatre company), the Royal Opera House, the Royal Northern College of Music and the Society for the Promotion of New Music. He has worked as a record producer for various artists, most recently Gwyn Allen in I Love Louis – A Creole Tribute to Louis Armstrong.
Alex was born in the UK and was brought up in Britain, briefly in Sierra Leone followed by Austria and Switzerland and has also studied in the US.
http://www.alexwilson.net/

Toufic Farroukh (Lebanon) & Charbel Rouhana (Lebanon)
Toufic Farroukh is a saxophone player and composer of jazz with a middle-eastern flavour stemming from his bi-cultural roots in Lebanon and France. His brother was a saxophone player and it was him who guided him to this instrument and taught him it's ABCs.
When he moved from Beirut to Paris, where he studied music in the conservatory and in the Advanced College of Music, saxophone was his first goal. His familiarity with it emerged through modern music, particularly the alto saxophone.
In fact, he did not study jazz and its roots at all, nor played jazz on the saxophone. Despite what he learned from the musical institutions in Paris, he is still a self-made musician, who learns and composes by himself. Since then, he started writing his own music.
Hear his music at: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=182228061

Charbel Rouhana is a Lebanese oud player, born in 1965 in Aamchit, Lebanon. Charbel pursued his music education at the Holy-Spirit University in Kaslik and obtained his diploma in oud instrumentation in 1986 and his M.A. in Musicology in 1987.
One of his major achievements is establishing a new methodology in playing the oud. This method was published and adopted by the National Conservatory of Music and the Faculty of Music in the Holy Spirit University, where he has been teaching since 1986. During the 80's he was member of Al-Mayadine ensemble, playing alongside Marcel Khalife.
Rouhana has been performing live events since 1984, touring several countries, venues, and festivals. He is also a winner of several national awards, Charbel also won the first prize at the Hirayama Competition in 1995 in Japan, for Best Composition, Hymn of Peace.
http://www.charbelrouhana.net/

BSB (Netherlands)
Sean Bergin is a saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, educator and band leader. Born in South Africa in 1948 he was naturally influenced by the rich South African jazz and being in Amsterdam in the 1970’s the creative ideas of the improvisers got under his skin. These different elements led to an original sound of his own. In 2000 he won the Boy Edgar prize, a top Dutch jazz award.
Victor de Boo started to play drums at the age of 12. He has a history of performances with great bands and musicians touring Holland, Europe, USA , Canada, Australia, India and Indonesia. He has released two recordings as a band leader: Made By Mates (1998) with Dale Barlow and Scott Tinkler and Live At The Bimhuis (2000) with Wolter Wierbos and Anton Goudsmit as well as contributing to a number of other albums. Recently he has been working with the Sean Bergin Trio, JC Trans Orchestra, Sven Schuster Quartet as well as other bands.
Jacko Schoonderwoerd, Bass Guitar, was born in 1962 in Amsterdam. He has participated in many projects and recordings such as Nansika , also with Sean Bergin and Victor de Boo, an album of South African jazz standards written by Abdullah Ibrahim and members of the Blue Notes.

André Ceccarelli Trio (France)
With the release of his solo albums, Ceccarelli in 1978 and André Ceccarelli in 1981, André Ceccarelli became one of European jazz's most promising young musicians. Joined by top-ranked jazz and progressive players, including Didier Lockwood, Jannick Top, Christian Escoude, and Francois Jeanneau, and vocalist Alex Ligertwood of the Brian Auger Band and Santana fame, Ceccarelli set the pace for a pair of memorable recordings.
"Symbolically", André wanted to inaugurate his latest album with the entire Ceccarelli dynasty present: Jean, the father and master drummer from whom the rest flows, but also his brother Jean-Paul and his son Régis. Stephy Haik accompanies him in his Album Carte blanche.
With André Ceccarelli, as every track on this album proves, technical mastery and faculty for adaptation go hand-in-hand with stylistic maturity and musicality.

* All artist biographies taken from the official Jazz Factory Program

AGENDA MUSIC Nov. 15 - Nov. 21

Saturday, November 15, 2008
- Antonio Gades Ballet Company presents Bizet’s opera Carmen in the Main Hal of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM
- Baroque Music Violin & Piano Recital with Hassan Sharara (violin) in the Small Hal of the cairo Opera House 8:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM
- Religious Song Ensemble, conducted by Essam Abdel Moneim at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM
- Bashir at the Cairo Jazz Club 10:00 PM

Sunday, November 16, 2008
- Antonio Gades Ballet Company presents Bizet’s opera Carmen in the Main Hal of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM
- El Masnaa “2” (Sticks Percussion Show) in the River Hall of El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:30 PM
- Vadim Rudenko (Pianist - Russia) plays works from Mozart, Chopin, Rachmaninov & Kapustin at the Manasterly Palace 8:00 PM
- Bashir at After 8 10:00 PM
- El-Nil Troupe for folk instruments (Folk music and songs) at Beit Al-Suheimi 8:00 PM
- Arab Music Heritage Ensemble conducted by Farouk El-Babli at the Arab Music Institute 8:00 PM

Monday, November 17, 2008
- El Masnaa “3” hosting Karim Nagy (Oriental and Western Percussion Show) in the Wisdom Hall of El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:30 PM
- Wust El Balad at After 8 10:00 PM

Tuesday, November 18, 2008
- Machine Eat Man by Mohamed Ragab (Electro, Indie, Rock) in the Wisdom Hall of El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:30 PM

Wednesday, November 19, 2008
- El Bakawat (Turkey) in the Wisdom Hall of El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM
- Mazaher Ensemble (Music of the Delta) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM

Thursday, November 20, 2008
- Galatea Quartet (Switzerland) in the Small Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM
- Hewale Sounds (Ghana) in the Wisdom Hall of El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM
- National Arab Music Ensemble directed by Selim Sahab at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM
- Sahra (Rai music) at After 8 10:00 PM

Friday, November 21, 2008
- Galatea Quartet (Switzerland) in the Small Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM
- Marwa Samy (Fusion) at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

"JAZZ FACTORY" - DAY 9

The “RemixPlus” project, the 4^th platform for young Arab musicians, with 17 musicians from Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia will jam for you tonight Thursday, November 13, 2008 at the Geneina Theatre inside the Al-Azhar Park, starting from 7:00 PM (Ticket 10 EGP)

Having seen some of them performing in the Liqaa Group last Tuesday at El-Sawi, I expect this to be a very interesting and cheerful evening.

Leave it to the rhythm.

"JAZZ FACTORY" - DAY 8

The following artists will perform tonight Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at the Manasterly Palace, starting from 8:00 PM (Free admission)

Radio String Vienna Quartet (Austria)
Bernie Mallinger, (Violin) studied in Graz. After his graduation, Mallinger spent several months in the USA to complete his studies (New School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Juilliard School in New York). He has been a freelance musician since 1997. Since then he is featured in approximately 80 CD productions performing Jazz, Folk, Rock, Pop and New Music. Since 1999 he has been teaching at the jazz department of the music-university in Graz, Austria, Instrumental praxis for Jazz violin.
Johannes Dickbauer, (Violin) was born in 1984 in Austria. He had his first violin lessons at the age of 4. Later he studied at the university Mozarteum in Salzburg with Benjamin Schmid, and then at the University of Vienna. Recently he joined the Radio String Quartet which is oriented in bringing elements of Jazz and Fusion into the formation of the classical string quartet.
Asja Valcic, (Cello), graduated with Soloist's Diploma. In 1995, she won the "Concours International de Jeunes Concertistes de Douai" in France.
Cynthia Liao, (Viola), was born in Taipei, Taiwan. She first studied the viola and composition in Taiwan. After that she studied viola at University for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna with Thomas Kakuska.
Watch and hear them at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foo9-lfhqUM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GDCy3n9rr0

Jawa Group (Syria)
Jawa Group is a special project prepared for the Euro-Arab Jazz Festival , The Jazz Factory in Cairo. It is the result of Remix Plus workshop in Cairo that takes place during November 2008 and is organized by Al Mawred Al Thaqafy.
Jawa Group consists of :
Nayssam Galal: Flute
Chams Ismael: Vocal
George Oro: Percussion

Alex Wilson (UK)
As a composer, arranger, performer and educator, Alex Wilson is one of the UK’s foremost Latin music producers. He has travelled over fifty countries to perform music in a multitude of projects. In 1993, after gaining a degree in Electronics and Computer Engineering from the University of York, he embarked on a professional career as a pianist, being snapped up to perform and record with several important artists. Of his five solo albums, his latest, Inglaterra, has been a worldwide hit on the salsa scene.
As a composer and musical director Alex has attracted commissions from NITRO (Britain’s leading black theatre company), the Royal Opera House, the Royal Northern College of Music and the Society for the Promotion of New Music. He has worked as a record producer for various artists, most recently Gwyn Allen in I Love Louis – A Creole Tribute to Louis Armstrong.
Alex was born in the UK and was brought up in Britain, briefly in Sierra Leone followed by Austria and Switzerland and has also studied in the US.
http://www.alexwilson.net/

* All biographies taken from Jazz Factory’s official program

"JAZZ FACTORY" - DAY 7

The following artists will be performing tonight Tuesday, November 11 2008 at El-Sawi Cultural Centre starting at 8:00 PM. Admission fee: 20 EGP

BSB (Netherlands)

Sean Bergin is a saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, educator and band leader. Born in South Africa in 1948 he was naturally influenced by the rich South African jazz and being in Amsterdam in the 1970’s the creative ideas of the improvisers got under his skin. These different elements led to an original sound of his own. In 2000 he won the Boy Edgar prize, a top Dutch jazz award.

Victor de Boo started to play drums at the age of 12. He has a history of performances with great bands and musicians touring Holland, Europe, USA , Canada, Australia, India and Indonesia. He has released two recordings as a band leader: Made By Mates (1998) with Dale Barlow and Scott Tinkler and Live At The Bimhuis (2000) with Wolter Wierbos and Anton Goudsmit as well as contributing to a number of other albums. Recently he has been working with the Sean Bergin Trio, JC Trans Orchestra, Sven Schuster Quartet as well as other bands.

Jacko Schoonderwoerd, Bass Guitar, was born in 1962 in Amsterdam. He has participated in many projects and recordings such as Nansika , also with Sean Bergin and Victor de Boo, an album of South African jazz standards written by Abdullah Ibrahim and members of the Blue Notes.

Radio String Vienna Quartet (Austria)

Bernie Mallinger, (Violin) studied in Graz. After his graduation, Mallinger spent several months in the USA to complete his studies (New School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Juilliard School in New York). He has been a freelance musician since 1997. Since then he is featured in approximately 80 CD productions performing Jazz, Folk, Rock, Pop and New Music. Since 1999 he has been teaching at the jazz department of the music-university in Graz, Austria, Instrumental praxis for Jazz violin.

Johannes Dickbauer, (Violin) was born in 1984 in Austria. He had his first violin lessons at the age of 4. Later he studied at the university Mozarteum in Salzburg with Benjamin Schmid, and then at the University of Vienna. Recently he joined the Radio String Quartet which is oriented in bringing elements of Jazz and Fusion into the formation of the classical string quartet.

Asja Valcic, (Cello), graduated with Soloist's Diploma. In 1995, she won the "Concours International de Jeunes Concertistes de Douai" in France.

Cynthia Liao, (Viola), was born in Taipei, Taiwan. She first studied the viola and composition in Taiwan. After that she studied viola at University for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna with Thomas Kakuska.

Watch and hear them at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foo9-lfhqUM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GDCy3n9rr0

Liqaa Group

Liqaa group is a special project prepared for the Euro-Arab Jazz Festival, The jazz factory. It is the result of Remin Plus workshop in Cairo that takes place during November 2008 and organized by Al Mawred Al Thaqafy.

Gasser Hajj Yossef: Violin

Hesham Bajou: Vocal

Khaled El Barkawy: Percussion

Folan Bou Hussein: Rababa, Guitar

Zaina Azouka: Piano

Wael El Sayed: Accordion

Mohamad Sawwah: Trumpet

* All artist biographies taken from the official Jazz Factory Program

"JAZZ FACTORY" - DAY 6

The following artists will be performing tonight Monday, November 10 2008 at El-Sawi Cultural Centre starting at 8:00 PM. Admission fee: 20 EGP

Toufic Farroukh (Lebanon)
Toufic Farroukh is a saxophone player and composer of jazz with a middle-eastern flavour stemming from his bi-cultural roots in Lebanon and France. His brother was a saxophone player and it was him who guided him to this instrument and taught him it's ABCs.
When he moved from Beirut to Paris, where he studied music in the conservatory and in the Advanced College of Music, saxophone was his first goal. His familiarity with it emerged through modern music, particularly the alto saxophone.
In fact, he did not study jazz and its roots at all, nor played jazz on the saxophone. Despite what he learned from the musical institutions in Paris, he is still a self-made musician, who learns and composes by himself. Since then, he started writing his own music.
Hear his music at: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=182228061

Jerez Texas (Spain)
Founded in Valencia (Spain) in 2002, Jerez Texas is a story of chance encounters. Encounters between Ricardo Esteve, Matthieu Saglio and Jesus Gimeno; three instrumentalists from different horizons (flamenco for the first, classical for the second and jazz for the third), who elegantly mix popular music and classical music, melodic pleasure and virtuosity.
It is also the union of three instruments: flamenco guitar, cello and drums. An original and yet appealing formation. The music of Jerez Texas, from flamenco to jazz, bossa and classical, speaks to the soul and mind.
The Musicians:
Ricardo Esteve (Flamenco guitar):
The musical identity of Ricardo Esteve, the guitar of Jerez-Texas, has been forged in the heart of flamenco, which he studied since his youngest years. Following many encounters, he has developed a very personal style where various influences cross; pop, folk, jazz, classical, Brazilian and African music.
Matthieu Saglio (Cello):
Matthieu is one of the pioneers of the introduction of the cello into flamenco.
Jesus Gimeno (Drums, percussion):
The musical creation that is Jerez-Texas rests on the subtle touch of Jesús Gimeno. Jesús trained in jazz at the Modern Music and Jazz School in Barcelona (1980) and at the Music School in Madrid and Castellón.
See and hear them at: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.channel&ChannelID=114451959
http://www.jereztexas.com/

* All artist biographies taken from the official Jazz Factory Program

"JAZZ FACTORY" - DAY 5

The following artists will be performing tonight Sunday, November 9 2008 at El-Sawi Cultural Centre starting at 8:00 PM. Admission fee: 20 EGP

The Peter Lipa’s Slovak Arab Connection (The Slovak Republic)
Peter Lipa is a Slovak jazz singer, composer, promoter, speaker, manager of jazz life. For the last 25 years he has been the promoter of the European festival Bratislava Jazz Days. Peter Lipa is regularly placed in the top 5 of the European jazz singers. His roots are blues, soul and classical mainstream. His range starts from classical jazz standards and dixieland thru´ latin, jazz chanson and ends with spirituals, funk or rock. He is a spontaneous improvising singer. At present he is working on with over stylish songwriting and works with the best Slovak lyricists.
Peter Lipa was born in 1943 in Prešov. Since 1989, Peter Lipa has become the president of Slovak Jazz Society. Moreover, in 2001, Peter Lipa became a member of an International Jury, which nominates the European Jazz Prize awards. Currently Peter Lipa prepares jazz programs for Czech radio 3 and Slovak radio Devin.
Official Site: http://www.peterlipa.com/index.php?id=250

Charbel Rouhana (Lebanon)
Charbel Rouhana is a Lebanese oud player, born in 1965 in Aamchit, Lebanon. Charbel pursued his music education at the Holy-Spirit University in Kaslik and obtained his diploma in oud instrumentation in 1986 and his M.A. in Musicology in 1987.
One of his major achievements is establishing a new methodology in playing the oud. This method was published and adopted by the National Conservatory of Music and the Faculty of Music in the Holy Spirit University, where he has been teaching since 1986. During the 80's he was member of Al-Mayadine ensemble, playing alongside Marcel Khalife.
Rouhana has been performing live events since 1984, touring several countries, venues, and festivals. He is also a winner of several national awards, Charbel also won the first prize at the Hirayama Competition in 1995 in Japan, for Best Composition, Hymn of Peace.
http://www.charbelrouhana.net/

El Dor El Awal (Egypt)
They began their creation process and rehearsals in a flat located in the first floor of a building in Cairo. So they decided to actually call the band El Dor El Awal that literally means ‘the first floor’ in Egyptian dialect.
Blending in their different musical backgrounds and adding each their personal touch, El Dor El Awal have truly succeeded in creating their own personal style.
More at: http://cairoliveeventsguide.blogspot.com/2008/10/el-dor-el-awal.html

* All artist biographies taken from the official Jazz Factory Program

"JAZZ FACTORY - DAY 4

The following artists will be performing tonight Saturday, November 8 2008 at the Geneina Theatre in the Al-Azhar Park starting at 7:00 PM. Admission fee: 10 EGP

The Peter Lipa’s Slovak Arab Connection (The Slovak Republic)
Peter Lipa is a Slovak jazz singer, composer, promoter, speaker, manager of jazz life. For the last 25 years he has been the promoter of the European festival Bratislava Jazz Days. Peter Lipa is regularly placed in the top 5 of the European jazz singers. His roots are blues, soul and classical mainstream. His range starts from classical jazz standards and dixieland thru´ latin, jazz chanson and ends with spirituals, funk or rock. He is a spontaneous improvising singer. At present he is working on with over stylish songwriting and works with the best Slovak lyricists.
Peter Lipa was born in 1943 in Prešov. Since 1989, Peter Lipa has become the president of Slovak Jazz Society. Moreover, in 2001, Peter Lipa became a member of an International Jury, which nominates the European Jazz Prize awards. Currently Peter Lipa prepares jazz programs for Czech radio 3 and Slovak radio Devin.
Official Site: http://www.peterlipa.com/index.php?id=250

Sharqi Bahari Group (Palestine/Egypt)
Huda Asfour is a Palestinian born in Lebanon in 1982. She has since lived in Tunisia, Gaza, Ramallah, Alexandria and Cairo. While in Ramallah, Huda joined the National Conservatory of Music where she started learning musical history, theory and appreciation under the supervision of Khaled Jubran. In 2001, she joined Al-Urmawi center for Mashriq music. She is also a member of Jehar ensemble a project created and developed by Al-Urmawi in 2004. Jehar has since performed in many Arab countries.
Nizar Rohana was born in the village of Esefya on Mount Carmel in 1975. Nizar started his musical journey at an early age by playing the piano. Later, he discovered his father's old oud, and since then has been exploring his own Arab music heritage.
In 1996, he moved to Jerusalem to take up academic studies. Focusing his research on the music of the great Egyptian composer Mohammad El Qasabji, Rohana completed his Masters degree in musicology in 2006. Today Nizar Rohana is a prominent oud player in the Palestinian musical scene and he performs regularly for local and international audiences. He teaches Arabic music and oud at the Palestinian Academy of Music in Ramallah and East Jerusalem, and plays in various Arab music ensembles, as well as in world music ensembles. He has recently released his first CD, Sard (Narration).

Kalman Olah Trio (Hungary)
The Hungarian jazz pianist Kalman Olah has gained international renown as an artist who masterfully combines elements of jazz, contemporary classical music and Hungarian folk. He was born in Budapest in 1970. He graduated from the Béla Bartok Conservatory, and completed his musical studies at Franz Liszt Music University, and he is now the chairman of its jazz faculty. In 2006 he received the Franz Liszt Award from the Hungarian Ministry of Culture and was awarded Grand Prize in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Composers competition. His winning composition, Always, is the centrepiece of his first U.S. release record with Jack DeJohnette and Ron McClure, 2007.
Janos Egri (double bass) was born in Budapest and has been an active jazz musician since he was only 17. Recently he has become one of the most popular jazz bass players in Hungary. From 1990 he played regularly with the Trio Midnight and in 1996 he founded his first band under the name of János Egri Group.
Andras Mohay (drums) was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1978. He started to learn classical percussion at the age of ten. He graduated at the Franz Liszt College of Music in 2003. Currently, he is a member of the Hungarian Modern Art Orchestra, and several different bands in his country.
Hear their music at http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=268572081

Carlo Actis Dato (Italy)
Carlo Actis Dato (Saxophone & Bass Clarinet)
Beppe Di Filippo (Alto & Soprano Sax)
Matteo Ravizza (Bass)
Daniele Bertone (Drums and Percussion)

The group started in 1984 and has since played over 500 gigs together from Australia to Japan to all across Europe and released numerous albums. They have also played on radio broadcasts all across Europe.
In the annual referendum of music critics for Musica Jazz magazine the Actis Dato Quartet was ranked seven times as one of the top Italian groups. Their records have been appreciated by jazz magazines all over the World and are featured in The Penguin Guide to Jazz and in the Larousse Encyclopaedia. The Japanese review, Jazz Hihyo, mentions Ankara Twist and Blue Cairo as the best examples of European jazz and the American magazine Down Beat gave four stars to the CD Baghdad Boogie.
http://www.actisdato.it/English/actisdato.htm

* All artist biographies taken from the official Jazz Factory Program

AGENDA MUSIC Nov. 8 - Nov. 14

Saturday, November 8, 2008

- Cairo Symphony Orchestra directed by Marcello Mottadelli present works from Schönberg and Schubert in the Small Hal of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- “JAZZ FACTORY” Carlo Actis Dato Group (Italy), Kalman Olah Trio (Hungary), Sharqi Bahari Group (Palestine/Jordan/Egypt), Peter Lipa’s Slovak-Arab Connection (Slovak Rep.) at the Geneina Theatre in the Al-Azhar Park 7:00 PM

- La Giostra Group (Italy) present a Sicilian dance and music show with traditional instruments in the Open Air Theatre of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- “17^th ARABIC MUSIC FESTIVAL” Ahmed Fathy (Yemen), Diana Korwazon (Jordan), Wa’ad Bahary (Syria) in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM

- Nagham Masry at the Cairo Jazz Club 10:00 PM

Sunday, November 9, 2008

- Maurizio Capone Band (Italy) and his Group Bungt-Bangt, present experimental “ecological” music researching new sounds and music through the use of garbage and beverage cans, pots, buckets and plastic pipes in the Open Air Theatre of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- “JAZZ FACTORY” El Dor El Awal (Egypt), Charbel Rouhana & Friends (Lebanon) Peter Lipa’s Slovak Arab Connection (Slovak Republic) in the Wisdom Hall of El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- “17^th ARABIC MUSIC FESTIVAL” Shahad Bremada (Syria), Hany Shaker (Egypt) in the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- El-Nil Troupe for folk instruments (Folk music and songs) at Beit Al-Suheimi 8:00 PM

Monday, November 10, 2008

- The Egyptian Philarmonic Society with David hales (piano), Ziad Hassan (violin) and Victoria Kapralova (Cello), holds a concert to commemorate the 20^th anniversary of the death of the Egyptian composer Gamal Abdel Rahim in the Oriental Hall of the American University In Cairo 8:00 PM

- “JAZZ FACTORY” Toufic Farroukh & Friends (Lebanon), Jerez Texas (Spain) in the Wisdom Hall of El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- Wust El-Balad at After 8 10:00 PM

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

- “JAZZ FACTORY” BSB Trio (The Netherlands), Radio String Vienna Quartet (Austria), Liqaa Group (Morocco/Tunisia/Jordan/Egypt) in the Wisdom Hall of El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:00 PM

- Sahra (Rai music) at the Cairo Jazz Club 10:00 PM

- Sphinx Orchestra conducted by Hani Hassan in the Open Air Theatre of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

- Antonio Gades Ballet Company presents Bizet’s opera Carmen in the Main Hal of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- “JAZZ FACTORY” Radio String Vienna Quartet (Austria), Jawa Group (Syria), Alex Wilson (UK) at the Manasterly Palace 8:00 PM

- Mazaher Ensemble (Music of the Delta) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM

- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 8:30 PM

Thursday, November 13, 2008

- Antonio Gades Ballet Company presents Bizet’s opera Carmen in the Main Hal of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- “JAZZ FACTORY” “REMIXPLUS” , the 4^th platform for young Arab musicians from Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Palestina. Syria and Tunisia at the Geneina Theatre in the Al-Azhar Park 7:00 PM

- Sahra (Rai music) at After 8 10:00 PM

- The Riff Band (Jazz) at the Cairo Jazz Club 10:00 PM

- Yehya Khalil and his band (Oriental Jazz) in the Small Hall of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

Friday, November 14, 2008

- Antonio Gades Ballet Company presents Bizet’s opera Carmen in the Main Hal of the Cairo Opera House 8:00 PM

- “JAZZ FACTORY” Alex Wilson (UK), Toufic Farroukh and Charbel Rouhana with Remixplus musicians, BSB Trio (The Netherlands), Andre Ciccarelli Trio (France) in the Amir Taz Palace 7:00 PM

- Wageeh Abaza Ensemble at the Gomhouria Theatre 8:00 PM

- Al Masnaa 1 (Percussion & Vocals) at El-Sawi Cultural Centre 8:30 PM