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| Originally Aired: March 6, 2009 |
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Musician Salama Blends Jazz, Traditional Arab Style |
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| Musician Fathy Salama started playing piano in Cairo jazz clubs at age 13, and has since been recognized for his combinations of traditional Arab music and jazz, winning a 2005 Grammy award for his collaboration with Youssou N'Dour on the "Egypt" album. Salama discusses his music and participation in the Arabesque festival. |
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Arabic music similar to jazz
JEFFREY BROWN: As a young adult, he pursued that love, including a period of study in New York with several jazz masters. Back home, after a successful stint as a record producer in the pop music world, he devoted himself to creating a whole new sound.In 1989, he formed a band called Sharkiat, meaning "From the East." FATHY SALAMA: I wanted to make my own version of my own roots, Arabic music, because, also, I always believed -- and I still believe -- that Arabic music has a lot to do or lots of similarity with jazz, because jazz is all about improvisation, primarily. Same in Arabic music. JEFFREY BROWN: That a place like the Jazz Club and a musician like Fathy Salama exist and thrive at all might be a bit of a revelation to many Americans. A vibrant, crowded city of some 18 million, Cairo has long been a major capital of popular culture within the Arab world, film, television, and music. FATHY SALAMA: To make a video clip, you know, or to be famous, they come to Cairo. JEFFREY BROWN: To be famous, you come to Cairo? FATHY SALAMA: Yes, yes, normally. |
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Using jazz chords creatively
JEFFREY BROWN: In recent years, there's been a growing influence of conservative Islam in Egyptian life. We were struck by the number of veiled women on the streets. Salama agrees that's happened, but characteristically, perhaps, he sees a mixed picture.FATHY SALAMA: A very normal thing you will see everyday here, a girl wearing a veil, but wearing very tight jeans. This is exactly how people think, like they have a duality somehow, like in-between. Otherwise, there wouldn't be a club like this, like where we're sitting. There's not many clubs like this, also, I should say. JEFFREY BROWN: The day after performing at the club, Salama invited us to his home and studio in a suburb of Cairo. FATHY SALAMA: It starts with a melody like this. JEFFREY BROWN: I asked for a demonstration of just how he puts together Arabic music and jazz. FATHY SALAMA: But what I did, I put chords, so I put harmonies, I put -- like F minor 9th. Definitely we don't have this in Arabic. JEFFREY BROWN: You don't have that? FATHY SALAMA: No, we don't have that... JEFFREY BROWN: That sounds like a -- that sounds like a jazz chord to me. FATHY SALAMA: Yes, exactly. And this -- this, also, we don't have, you know? This is known even in the states and everywhere. This is a Herbie Hancock song. It's very known, you know. JEFFREY BROWN: That's Herbie Hancock over an Arabic song? FATHY SALAMA: Over this, yes. So that's what I'm saying. That's what I'm trying to achieve somehow. |
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'We are mixes'
JEFFREY BROWN: In recent years, Salama has also been working to connect Arabic music with traditions from other parts of the globe. At this recent concert in Cairo, his band played with a Cuban salsa group.In 2005, Salama won a Grammy Award for his collaboration with world music superstar Youssou N'Dour from Senegal. Their album, called "Egypt," featured music from the Islamic Sufi tradition. FATHY SALAMA: We are mixes, all of us on Earth. JEFFREY BROWN: Mixes? FATHY SALAMA: Mixes, yes. Anyways, I mean, nobody can claim that you're pure this or pure that. Everybody was mixed at some time and came from here, when there. And for me, I think my message is to show this. We all share music, so somehow sharing this kind of peace that music brings. JEFFREY BROWN: Fathy Salama and his band will perform in Washington at the Kennedy Center's "Arabesque" festival on March 8th. |
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