Rami El Aaser- percussion [darbeki, riq, frame drum]
Tiye Giraud - percussion and vocals (shekere, darbeki, pandeiro)
Michael Hess - violin and nai flute
Haig Manookian - oud
Influences
Egyptian classical music, Indian popular & film music, Gulf Arabic, Sudanese,
Bi Kidude, Ikwani Safa Musical Club, Culture Musical Club.
Sounds Like
Zanzibar and other areas of Eastern Africa.
A beautiful marriage of Arab, African and Indian sounds, Taraab music is all about beautiful highly ornamented vocals, the lyrics almost always about love, soulful instrumental taqasim [modal improvisation] and exciting percussion. Lovers of Middle Eastern music will enjoy this genre for sure.
A little over 100 years ago, the Sultan of Zanzibar sent his court musicians abroad to study...They returned, and taraab ws born.
This genre, found in the towns of coastal Eastern Africa, is a happy hybrid of Arabic, Indian, and African styles, with the poignant songs of love and longing sung in the melodious language of Kiswahili.
Zanzibar style taraab is basically Egyptian song and modal practice, and the predilection for Arabic instruments, such as the oud, qanun, nai, and violin, and takt percussion...dumbeg & riq.
Mombasa is known for highly syncopated rythmn, with accordion, oud and violin backed up by guitar and modern drum kit.
Dar Es Salaam sings songs that may be right out of an Indian movie, and tablas are the popular form of percussion there in that cosmopolitan city.
In addition, you may hear varied instruments from anywhere, such as Japanese biwa or Latin American bongos, demonstrating the ecclectic nature of this music.
The Sounds of Taraab endeavor to familiarize audiences with the exciting and profound music amd dance from Africa's Eastern coast.
http://www.myspace.com/soundsoftaraab
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Hey guys. sorry we've been quiet for a while. Hope all going well for you there - we're still working on plans to get over and see you with the film. News afoot of a big Tanzania fling in September in NYC - will fill you in as soon as we know more.
