Kalthoum

Description

"Kalthoum" and "Red & Black Light" are two albums paying tribute to women. "KALTHOUM" is a celebration of the women who have changed the course of history and whose artistic influence has impacted our current lives. I chose an iconic figure, a true monument in the history of the Arab people, and who is also the voice I have listened to the most since my early childhood: Oum Kalthoum. Together with pianist Frank Woeste, we have "translated" one of the greatest hits of the Egyptian diva into a fairly conventional jazz style, but we hope it is innovative due to its fusion: "Alf Leila Wa Leila" ("One Thousand and One Nights"). This song from 1969, composed by Baligh Hamidi, is a suite of about an hour (as was often the case at that time), featuring a 3-minute refrain and verses ranging from 5 to 25 minutes. Improvisation plays an important role, both in the original version and in this one.