These days, Cairo is not generally privy to visits
from bands around the Mediterranean that perform traditional music forms. While
the popularity of Balkan music seems to be growing globally, and gaining devoted
followings niche communities around the world, it seems the passionate and
invigorating music hasn’t quite made its hold in Egypt yet. Not to say it
couldn’t, or won’t.
Maurice K is a French band that plays a
contemporary mélange of traditional music, supported by a Balkan base, embellished
with columns of other traditions from around the varied and colored Mediterranean
traditions, including Arab and Turkish. The band, generally made up of violin,
guimbri, clarinet, flutes and davul, will join their bassoon player, Pierre Glorieux,
who is currently based in Cairo, for a tour through Egypt’s heart. For this
tour, they will be adorning their sound with a hint of Persian and Afghan
essence, courtesy of Cairo’s multi-instrumentalist Eslam El Sha’ary, also bolstering
their Arabic flavor with the oud of Yasmine El Baramawy.
Maurice K’s Cairo tour dates:
16 April : French Institut Mounira
17 April : Cairo Jazz Club
18 April : Darb 1718
19 April : Opera House - Open Theatre
21 April : Elbet Alwan Maadi
Follow Maurice K on Facebook and SoundCloud.
