Born in 1970 in Agadir, Morocco, Driss El Maloumi is an artist characterized by his virtuosity and talent.
Following a degree in Arabic Literature from Ibnou Zohr University in Agadir in 1993, and a memoire on the philosophical approach to music in relation to its form and substance in artistic discourse, Driss completed a comprehensive training in both Arabic and Western classical music. This earned him in succession First Prize for the Oud, First Prize for Excellence, and the Prix d'Honneur in the National Oud Exam from the National Conservatory of Music in Rabat in 1992, 1993 and 1994.
His music travels between different colours and genres, nourished by encounters with international artists such as the Spaniards Jordi Saval & the Ensemble Hesperion XXI and Montserrat Figueiras, with whom he has collaborated on several albums, with Pierre Hamon (France), Keyvan Chemirani (Iran), Francoise Atlan (France), Omar Bachir (Iraq), Carlo Rizzo (Italy), Alla (Algeria) in both traditional and classical music, as well as with Paolo Fresu (Italy), Claude Tchamitchian (Armenia), the Paf Trio (Italy) and Xavi Maureta (Spain) in jazz .
Driss has written and contributed to theatre music for numerous productions including Isabel "I" (musical direction by Jordi Saval), L'Amour Sorcier by Manuel de Falla (directed by Antoine Bourseiller), Caravane de Lune (musical direction by Gerard Kurdjian) and Oiseau de Lune (directed by Antoine Bourseiller) and to the soundtrack of the film La Source des Femmes (directed by Radu Mihaileanu). He has played alongside great poets such as Abdelatif Laabi (Morocco) and Adonis (Syria).
In 2000, Driss wrote and produced the jazz album Tawada in collaboration with the French artist Alban Darche (awarded four stars by Jazz magazine). He has also contributed to many other acclaimed recordings including the album Noches by Francoise Atlan in 1998 (awarded the highest accolade 'Choc' by the French music magazine Le Monde de la Musique) and Lys & Love by Laurent Voulzy (2011).
Universally praised for the quality, purity and delicacy of his playing and music, the press nickname him the "Oud Magician".