World music, compiled by Stan Rijven. Theme: Ud in Diaspora
Discovery
The ud (also spelled oud) once made a long journey from Baghdad to Andalusia and formed the base of a musical revolution in the West where it transformed into the lute. The 5th UD Festival is entirely dedicated to the instrument that symbolises the musical bridge between East & West. Discovery is the 2024 festival theme, while stories of three medieval explorers Ibn Battuta, Marco Polo and Ziryâb serve as a metaphor to capture the development of the ud in a wide musical repertoire. Rich in tone and versatile in its possibilities, the ud is the perfect catalyst for cooperation and experiment between musicians across cultures today. During the festival Dutch and international musicians will perform such as the ud-players Jawa Manla, Nizar Rohana and Haytam Safia; singer Ghalia Benali and the Amsterdam Andalusisch Orkest.
Diaspora
The theme of this Ritmundo-edition is the Ud in Diaspora, focussing on how this 12-string fretless instrument became part of contemporary popular music around the globe. Since 2005 the Dutch band NO Blues created its own Arabicana, a fusion of Americana guitar style with the Arabic maqam tradition. In the USA migrants from Armenia, Egypt and Syria developed their own fusions such as the singers Russell Bunai and Kahraman, or the Kef Time Band as part of the Cleopatra Revue in Las Vegas. From mid 20th century and next to the great Oum Kalthoum Lebanese diva Fairouz reigned the Arabic radiowaves, today followed by a new wave of female talent such as Ghalia Benali and Souad Massi. Singing with the Orquesta Andalusi de Tanger flamenco phenomenon Juan Pena El Lebrijano reunited Andalusia while bridging the Strait of Gibraltar. Playing jazz means improvisation, likewise for the ud as Rabih Abou-Khalil proves with Charlie Mariano (sax) and Kenny Wheeler (trumpet). Even a blend between the ud and Afro-Cuban son sounds natural as the mixed band Jomed shows. Many other ud-varieties will return in Amsterdam, Den Bosch, Den Haag and Utrecht during the 5th Ud Festival.
Info: 5e UD Festival: Oct 25 / Dec 1 2024
https://www.udfestival.nl/
https://www.amsterdamsandalusischorkest.nl/producties/ud-festival-2024
Playlist:
1) NO Blues- The World Keeps Turning (NL)
CD: OhYeah Habibi (CRS- 2015)
2) Souad Massi- Ghir Enta (TUNESIA)
CD: Deb (Island Records- 2003)
3) Ghalia Benali- Quala ‘Nnass (TUN/ BE)
CD: Romeo & Leila (Link Kultuurburo- 2006)
4) Radio Tarifa- Manana (SP)
CD: Rumba Argelina (World Circuit- 1996)
5) Juan Pena El Lebrijano & Orquesta Andalusi de Tanger- La Mil y Una Noches (SP/MAROC)
CD: Encuentros (Globestyle- 1985)
6) Russell Bunai- Li’b al-Khayl (SYRIA/ USA- 1948)
CD: The music of Arab Americans, a retrospective collection (Rounder-1997)
7) Kahraman- Only You (EGYPT/ USA-50ies)
CD: The music of Arab Americans, a retrospective collection (Rounder-1997)
8) Rabih Abou-Khalil- Rabou Abou Kabou (LEBANON/ GERM)
CD: Blue Camel (Enja Records- 1992)
9) Fairouz- Beirut Hal Zarafat, live (LEBANON)
CD: The legendary Fairuz (EMIsphere- 1997)
10) Dhafer Youssef- Birds Canticum, “Birds Requiem” Suite (TUN)
CD: Birds Requiem (Okeh- 2013)
11) Jomed- Montuno Noreno (ALGERIA/ CUBA)
CD: North African Groove (Putumayo- 2005)
12) Kef Time- Sulukule (ARMENIA/ USA (1968)
CD: Kef Time (Traditional Crossroads- 1994)
