Artists
who's who and who's doing what?EL TANBURA
- country:Egypt
- style(s):Egyptian Sufi
- artist submitted by:
El Tanbura are a collective of veteran Egyptian
master musicians, singers, fishermen and philosophers.
They are based in Port Said, at the gateway to the Suez Canal,
and dress in an eclectic mix of Gallibiya, Levis and Gucci
sunglasses with Fez and Nike caps.
Their music is driven by the seductive call of the simsimiyya ( an
ancient harp dating back to the times of the greatest Pharaohs),
cautiously revered both for its mesmerising properties and
occult origins in ancient exorcism rituals.
Founded in 1989, El Tanbura regularly perform to enthusiastic
audiences across Egypt and have made numerous international
festival appearances in Zanzibar, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden,
Canada and the UK.
The group's first international album was released with Institute
du Monde Arab, and they recently collaborated with One Giant
Leap on the forthcoming DVD 2sides2everything.
An Egyptian documentary film, "The Siren" featuring El Tanbura
was recently awarded the Jury prize at the Cairo El Sawy Film
Festival and is screening at WOMEX 2005 in Newcastle
accompanied by a live performance from members of the band.
El Tanbura's new acoustic album project is available for licensing
in 2006. Recorded in Cairo, the album comprises of an
enchanting acoustic mix of folk melodies and Sufi verses, all led
by the captivating sound of the simsimiyya and underpinned by
driving Arabian grooves.
"Quite magical…it is easy to imagine why
Simsimiyya players were employed on Red Sea ships
to charm the winds"
Songlines
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