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Formed in the Egyptian city of Abu-al-Djud (now Luxor), the Musicians of the Nile reflect the singing tradition of Egypt's gypsy families., The Musicians of the Nile have criss-crossed Europe over the last 20 years. Like the ancient bards of time past, the difference is that they move through space and cultures as comfortably on an airplane as on the back of a donkey.
Discovered in 1975 by Alain Weber, who has been their artistic director ever since, the Musicians of the Nile is a group whose talent has always included some of the greatest figures of the Upper Egyptian tradition - among them, Metqal Qenawi Metqal, Shamandi Tewfiq Metqal and Muhammed Murad Mejali, all three of them members of the famous Mataqil clan of musicians.
Well before the World Music wave, the Musicians of the Nile were the first so-called "Arab Music" group to attain widespread popularity. Frequently imitated and sometimes plagiarized, the Musicians of the Nile have kept up with the parallel currents in music ever since the Chateauvallon Festival in 1975, where they met some of the greatest jazz musicians of the time including Sun Ra and Keith Jarret.
Their dazzling mix of traditional songs is perfectly showcased on this early Real World release, which was taped in both France and England during the late '80s. With the dusky strains from the rababah (traditional fiddle), the mizmar (an oboe-like instrument), and the tablah (a hand drum similar to the darbouka) filling the air, the group delivers an array of trance-inducing long-players, including ensemble pieces as well as solo spotlights like the tablah feature "Zahrafat Al Sa'id" (Rejoicing in Upper Egypt) and the arghul (double-reed clarinet) vehicle "Kol Elle Qalboh Ankawa" .
The Musicians Of The Nile - Luxor To Isna (84 123mb)
01 Al Bahr Al Gharam Wasah (Love Is As Vast As A River) 9:59
02 Zahrafat Al Sa'id (Rejoicing In Upper Egypt) 7:04
03 Ya Tir 'Ala Shadjarah (Oh Bird Upon The Tree) 9:14
04 Horse Steps 0:42
05 Al Nahla Al 'Ali (The Tall Palm Tree) 3:25
06 Kol Elle Qalboh Ankawa (Everyone Has Had A Broken Heart) 11:53
07 Yunes Wa 'Azizah (Yunes And Azizah) 10:06
08 Al-aqsur-isna (From Luxor To Isna) 1:27
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Hossam Ramzi was born in Cairo, Egypt to a prominent Egyptian family which emphasized education and art. Ramzy's musical career began at the age of three when he was given his first drum, an Egyptian traditional tabla. Hossam was encouraged by his artistic family to master his craft and studied under leading Cairo music teachers. When he moved to Saudi Arabia he joined several Bedouin tribes which gave him a rich insight into the cultural origins of Middle Eastern music and became the inspiration for many of his later rhythmic directions.
In the mid-1970s Ramzi moved to London, England and enjoyed a lot of success as a jazz drummer, working with many respected jazz musicians including Andy Sheppard and Geoff Williams. As he began looking for new dimensions of percussive sounds, he turned back to Egyptian Drums, and traditional dance rhythms of the Middle East.
Hossam Ramzy's friends call him "The Egyptian Rhythm Ambassador". He recorded his first solo album, An Introduction To Egyptian Dance Rhythms in 1987. This album was a break from his career as one of the most sought-after session percussionists of his generation. His CV at the time read like a who’s who of '80s music - Boy George, Marc Almond, Peter Gabriel and Killing Joke were just a few of his clients. After achieving this success, Ramzi decided to look deeply at his own musical roots. He said that his intention was "to record, document, enhance and contribute to the rhythms and compositions of a musical and dance culture that was slowly being eroded by the desire for progress, modernisation and superficial Westernisation". Ramzi was convinced that a vital musical and cultural tradition and heritage would be lost if many of the compositions that he knew and loved so deeply were not recorded for future generations. He recorded 22 CDs from 1987 to 2007.
A keen sorcerer of sonic visions, Phil Thornton has written and produced over 20 solo albums, since beginning his musical odyssey in the early '80s with the group 'Expandis' Phil Thornton is now closely associated with the British New Age music movement, but he is also an accomplished guitarist and has had a long touring and recording association with Sinead O'Connor. He is a regular member of the neo-psychedelic English band Mandragon, and he has worked with Gordon Giltrap, Talking Heads, Stallion, Die Laughing, Naked Lunch, 4 B 2's, and Expandis.
Phil's first two ambient albums the film score for 'Cloud Sculpting' and 'Edge Of Dreams' both topped the 'New Musical Express' New Age chart and are now widely acclaimed as classics of their genre. His arrangements often feature a mix of ethnic and modern instruments, which has led him into collaborations with leading 'world' musicians to create a diverse and hypnotic blend of atmospheric compositions.
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Following the glowing success of Eternal Egypt, the first collaboration between Phil Thornton and Hossam Ramzy, a new light of creativity has guided the two of them to work together again in a startling and innovative format. With pieces added by top soloists and session musicians in Cairo, and re-arranged and overlaid by Phil and Hossam back in the UK, the outcome is an album that became the Bible for ALL Tribal & Fusion Middle Eastern dancers around the world. Causing a major wave of interest from dancers in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, Europe, UK, USA and South America alike. Immortal Egypt is a deeper exploration of the Egyptian dance/Western contemporary theme running through the albums 'Pharaoh' and 'Eternal Egypt' by Phil Thornton and on which Hossam has collaborated as a percussionist. During the recording of 'Eternal Egypt' Hossam was able to take samples of work in progress to Cairo and overdub 'Kawala' flute and quarter tone Accordion. On this album I was keen to use more Egyptian instruments as the “Eternal Egypt” session had gone so well. With this in mind, Hossam and I spent some time in Cairo during August 1997 recording overdubs using a wide range of traditional and modern Egyptian instruments including Violins, Nay, Kawala, Trumpet and Mizmars. Haunting mixtures of rhythms and emotions that turned the music from a daring experiment to a new style of music that set itself as the new Mile Stone in the history of East meeting West collaborations.
Phil Thornton & Hossam Ramzy - Immortal Egypt (96 156mb)
01 At The Gates Of The Citadel 5:32
02 Cairo Blues 6:46
03 Last Words By The Temple 7:02
04 Morocco Dance 5:40
05 Derwood Green 6:07
06 El Moulid 6:46
07 Praying For Rain 7:02
08 Emerald Minarets In A Sea Of Stars 5:40
09 Sunrise Over Giza 6;12
10 Immortal Egypt 6:17
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