Arts Canteen Presents Hijaz (EFG London Jazz Festival)

Hijaz is an Arabic musical scale but also holds a clear reference to jazz. Based around the dialogue between the oud and the piano, between reason and feeling, Hijaz is a close quartet exploring differences and similarities in cultures in order to create harmony, warmth and musical beauty.

Hijaz was formed in 2004, and sprung from the collaboration between Tunisian master oud player Moufadhel Adhoum and Greek-Belgian pianist Niko Deman. Hijaz is the marriage of the piano, great instrument from the Western musical tradition, with the stringed instrument that has become synonymous with the Middle East, the oud. Both musicians discovered a shared passion for Mediterranean genres and musical improvisation and decided to work on an instrumental project based around the dialogue and symbiosis between the East and the West.

For the musicians of Hijaz jazz is not a genre but rather an approach towards music. It is an open attitude, a certain kind of musicianship that witholds a flexibility to dive into different musical worlds wherever they come from.

Where Niko had to incorporate previously unknown Arabic scales and polyrhythms, Moufadhel had to adjust his way of playing to the harmonious challenges of the piano. Being both terrific musicians and good friends, over the years, they succeeded in the task.

Line-up:

Moufadhel Adhoum (TUN) – oud
Niko Deman (GR/B) – piano
Rui Salgado (PORT) – double bass
Chryster Aerts (B) – percussion

Featuring Abir Nasraoui (Tunisia) as a special guests!

Classical trained, performer distinguished of great classic songs of Arabic music, Abir Nasraoui enriches constantly the rhythms and melodies of his musical culture with her many artistic collaborations. Author and gifted singer, she weaves on the most prestigious stages a subtle universe, nuanced, at the crossroads between Arabic songs and world music, intimate witness of a double influence, that is constantly feeds by a passion always confirmed for the song.