Night of Arabic rhythms at Alliance Francaise in Nairobi

If you have an ear for a bold musical improvisation, then next Wednesday night will offer you an opportunity to enjoy a fusion of Arabic rhythms with computer electronic music, spiced up with elements of jazz, funk and soul.

The Tunisian-born musician, Jean Pierre Smadja, who is known by the stage name Smadj, will be playing the Kenyan leg of his African tour at a one-off concert at the Alliance Francaise in Nairobi on the 17th September from 7 pm.
Here is an artist who has mastered the art of the classical Arabian lute, along with cutting edge production engineering to create an almost seamless union between traditional and contemporary styles of music.
The centuries-old instrument he plays, called the oud, which literally means “wood” in Arabic, is the distinctive instrument of Arabic music and is the forebearer of modern stringed instruments like guitar. It has been explored for centuries in Turkish, North African and Middle Eastern rhythms and remains relevant even in today’s digital and electronic sphere.
Raised by Tunisian parents in the suburbs of Paris, the multi-instrumentalist and producer, Smadj grew up on a diet of Oriental sounds, Brazilian, funk, soul and folk music. Fired by a passion for the guitar, he enrolled in music school in Paris at age 15 and graduated with a degree in sound engineering after five years.

He played guitar and the oud, for about a decade around the city’s jazz circuit, while also creating rhythms for many classical and folk musicians in his mobile studio.
He released his first album in 1994 but it was not until six years later that he came to international attention for this striking blend of acoustic and electronic sounds on his debut album “Equilibriste.”
In what was to be his trademark, Smadj switched easily between Eastern and Western influences, electric and acoustic, modern and classical.
The music was adventurous, complex, intricate and passionate and won him admirers both in Europe and in the U.S. The next album New Deal firmly cemented his place at the vanguard of a new breed of electronic Arabic music producers.
The links to his music via the online platform SoundCloud throws up all kinds of sounds, from songs that combine the oriental vocal style with electronic dance, to those like ‘Midnight Express” that sound purely like an updated version of legendary producer Giorgio Moroder’s 70s disco sound.
Others like “Disco Oud” as the title suggests, is an irresistible funky groove flavoured with Oriental rhythms from his favourite instrument, evidence of what the artist describes as musical tastes that “have no frontiers”.
Smadj next album “Smadj Spleen” will be released at the beginning of 2015 and carries on the trend of combining the rich musical traditions of the Orient with the fresh dimension of modern sound engineering and production.
He may not be the first to bring the oud into the electronic age, but he does so with a refreshing creative freedom and innovation that will be a source of joy for the adventurous section of music fans in Nairobi.
During his recordings and live tours, Smadj has worked with a range of World Music collaborators include the Malian singer Rokia Traore, Indian vocalist/guitarist Amit Chaterjee and British tabla player Talvin Singh who is famous for his fusion of classical Indian tunes with electronic beats.

Together with fellow oud player, Mehdi Habbab from Algeria, Smadj formed the duo DuOud, a project whose objective is to make the ancient stringed instrument relevant to the 21st century.
On the current tour, Smadj is accompanied by Sofiane Saidi who was born in Sidi Bel Abbes, the birthplace of the now famous Algerian Rai music.

Saidi works between Algiers, London, and Paris and has recorded and toured with the renowned singer Natasha Atlas and the group Raina Rai. Other musicians on the tour are French saxophonist Dennis Guivarch and London based South African DJ Mo Laudi who has gained a huge following in the U.K for his performances during the London African nights where he plays a variety of beats including House and Kwaito.
The quartet’s performance cuts across various genres blending the classic Arabic sound with Jazz, House Music and Soul grooves, produced in harmony. Smadj and his group are on an East African tour till the 26th of September and after Nairobi, the group will play in Kigali, Kampala and finally, Addis Ababa.

Advance tickets for next Wednesday night’s concert are on sale at the Alliance Francaise for Sh500.