Alcazaba’s debut album now available

from ASC Records at www.ascrecords.com

 

I studied the oud with Iraqi soloist Ahmed Mukhtar in London and studied at the Arab Oud House in Cairo with Iraqi virtuoso Naseer Shamma and Egyptian soloist Nihad El-Sayed. I am also a percussionist specialising in Middle Eastern and Spanish percussion.

 

I hold a BA Hons in Business Management, a Diploma in Sound Engineering  and a Master’s degree with Distinction in Music Performance from SOAS, University of London, specializing in Middle Eastern music performance.

 

As well as freelance and solo performance, I play in a duet with Joelle Barker with whom I perform classical Arabic music and my own compositions, and Flamenco fusion bands ‘Candela’ (www.myspace.com/candelamusic), and 'Alcazaba' (www.myspace.com/alcazabamusic) who have just released their debut CD. My latest project is the Attab Haddad Quintet which is releasing its first album with ASC Records soon and had its first concert in November 2007.

 

Collaborations include work with/for James Newton Howard, Paul Gladstone-Reid, Eugene Skeef, John Metcalfe, Jean Abreu, Max Baillie, Matt Smith, Kalia Baklitzanaki, Andrew Cronshaw, Algy Behrens amongst others.

 

Performances include The Purcell Room at the Southbank, Buckingham Palace, St Paul's Cathedral, 606 Club, Cargo, The Nehru Centre, The Spitz, SOAS, Kingston University, The Place, The Quecumbar, Notting Hill Arts Club amongst others.

 

Film credits include work on Paul Gladstone's score for Isaac Julien's Phantom Creole, and work on James Newton Howard's score for Ed Zwick's film, Blood Diamond, starring Leonardo Di Caprio and Jennifer Connelly.