Ali Khattab
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Ali Khattab

Madrid, Madrid, Spain | Established. Jan 01, 2007 | INDIE

Madrid, Madrid, Spain | INDIE
Established on Jan, 2007
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"The Egyptian flamenco guitarist Ali Khattab proposes the most effective approach to the music of the Maghreb."

Extract: A work in which perhaps for the first time we can talk about fusion, not only juxtaposition between these two music styles - arabic and flamenco -, because fusion occurs naturally in individuals, here in the person named Ali Khattab.

Full article (translated from Spanish)
The path of dialogue , rapprochement, or whatever you want to call it, to the music of North Africa , especially inhereted from the musicians of Al- Andalus , with Hispanic music has had its best results with Eduardo Paniagua and Omar Metioui , who searched in a common past, in the repertoire of music from the Middle Ages, the right place for these meetings . Those who have been in the field of flamenco have not always yielded interesting results. We can count on this line names like Lebrijano , aunténtico pioneer of these roads, José Luis Montón or the own Enrique Morente. Even Tomatito dared
, although with controversial results, to use Erkan Ogur repertoire, heavyweight of the contemporary Turkish music. But maybe in this way the best have been the incursions by Lole Montoya in the repertoire of the Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum. And the reason for this success was that the singer has scrupulously respected the original compounds to Umm Kulthum, has even recorded with the orchestras that originally accompanied the Egyptian diva. Well, here's an Egyptian flamenco guitarist. A flamenco album recorded in Cairo and with 16 musicians there. Although the rhythm of some of his compositions is Flamenco, with the accompaniment of palms in the case of the tangos , the melodies , with their characteristic arabesques melodic leaps, are eminently Oriental and are based , according to the author , in maqamat (modes), hijaz , rast , nawaathar and nahawand , it means in the traditional Middle Eastern music. The theme Tangos del Nilo combines the flamenco jondo with karachi and malfouf rhythms. The solea piece which titled the album fluctuates between major and minor scales and classic amalgamated rhythm is carried by the doff and the tar, besides having a delicious melodic variation by violinist Abdou Dagher. The traditional harmonic wheel of the solea is combined with a purely oriental theme used as a bridge. Some variations are far from traditional flamenco harmony, with good effect no doubt. This solea, like this album, is a winding journey although filled with taste, flirting in his journey, reveling itself in the melody, in the improvisation. Ali Khattab pulsation is neat , without the usual stress of the flamenco jondo, but in change it offers serenity and classical strength, which finds its best formulation in the Taranta Sueño Claro, the only guitar solo. The seguiriya is a duo guitar - oud , with the virtuoso Omar Beshir, later joined by violin player Abdou Dagher, and embodies the essence of this work, this dialogue between two musical forms, the rhythm and the modal harmony of the seguiriya with variations on the modes rast and nahawand, among others, which basically are the same. Essence of the Mediterranean, especially in free rhythm passages, where almost everything is pure improvisation by three virtuosos. It doesn’t lack a tribute to Umn Kulthumm through Enta Omri, one of the tunes made famous by the great singer, real idol of the masses, which Khattab adapts to rumba. A work in which , perhaps for the first time , we can talk about merging, and not only juxtaposition, these two music forms because fusion occurs naturally in individuals, in the person called Ali Khattab. - Juan Vergillos - Diario de Sevilla


"Where Flamenco meets the Middle East"

Egyptian guitarist Ali Khattab brings together Flamenco and Arabic music on his new CD titled Al-Zarqa. The album came out a few weeks ago, released by Madrid’s reputable Nuevos Medios label.

Although Ali Khattab has been living and studying Flamenco in Spain in recent years, he recorded Al-Zarqa in Cairo, with a large ensemble of musicians, including two special guests, Omar Beshir on oud and Abdou Dagher on violin.

Al-Zarqa presents traditional flamenco forms combined with the Arabic sounds of Egypt and Arab-Andalusian influences. Ali Khattab is a skilled guitarist and does not hesitate to venture into the more difficult flamenco forms. He uses traditional Flamenco rhythms such as the buleria, performed with Middle Eastern/North African percussion instruments.

“The term Al-Zarqa harkens back to the time of Al Andalus. The Arabs in the Iberian Peninsula called a type of dark haired woman with blue eyes Al Zarqa, a Moorish woman with pale eyes,” says Khattab. “Since my compositions are born out of the influence of the Middle East and flamenco, of east and west, I think it was very appropriate to use it to give title this project.

Flamenco palos (genres) such as soleá, seguiriya, taranta, tangos and rumbas are gathered here together with its eastern ancestors, the traditional maqamat of the Middle East, hijaz, rast, nawaathar, and nahawand.

With this music I started a voyage to far away times, mixing delicately the rhythms of the desert with echoes and sounds of ancient tribes. Without lyrics or language, without borders or territories, I wanted to take my music to its origin, an unknown place, full of mystery: the true roots of music.”

Ali Khattab, born in Cairo in 1977, became a professional musician at 17. His passion for Flamenco and Andalusian music led him to one of the cradles of flamenco, Jerez de la Frontera. He spent a lot of time in Andalusia, meeting and performing with influential flamenco musicians, singers, guitarists, and dancers who introduced him to the essence of flamenco.

A. Romero
World Music Central - A. Romero - World Music Central


"Independent Music Awards 2012 - Best World Traditional Song"

Independent Music Awards 2012: "A..dios" - Best World Traditional Song - Independent Music Awards 2012


"Songlines Top of the World Album"

New old Flamenco, with a North African twist.
While the Cairo-born musician Ali Khattab is described as a flamenco guitarist, it’s better to think of him simply as an artist devoted to melismatic, modal music, of the kind that runs through this entire eight-piece sequence. The music gels like concept albums do: individual pieces flow together as part of a whole, making a soundscape that simultaneously depicts a mood landscape. It's the perfect soundtrack for everyday life: whether you're working, having friends around or even meditating.
One of the last records to be procuded by Mario Pacheco (the man behind the recordings of 'nu flamenco' on his pioneering Madrid-based Nuevos Medios label), this album places the exquisite musicianship right up front. In fact, I initially thought it might be too sinuous and fluent for its own good, missing the defining splash and impact that roots flamenco guitar offers. On repeat listens I fell under the spell of Khattab's amazing abilities, appreciating the fine detail of a pan-Mediterranean ensemble in which accordion, Oriental flute, saz and oud interweave and solo over gentle percussion and undulating bass lines which in turn fuse with cello and violin. Highlights include 'Tangos del Nilo', a beautiful tribute to 'Ole Umm Kulthum' and 'A. ..dios' (sic). This is an album whose gentle charm speaks volumes.
Jan Fairley - Songlines Mag UK - Jan Fairley


Discography

Al Zarqa | 2010 Nuevos Medios Spain
Songlines UK - Top of the World Album (nov/dec 2011)
Independent Music Awards - Best World Traditional Song: "A...dios"

Sin Pais | 2014 Nesma Music Spain
upcoming released May 15, 2014

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Bio

Ali Khattab (July 4, 1977) is an Egyptian composer and guitarist. In his works, he combines the elements of two musical worlds and
traditions: The Arab-Oriental and the Gypsy-Andalusian, flamenco.
From the age of seventeen, the time when he first starts performing on
stage, everything he does is meant to lead him to two places: the cradle
of flamenco, Jerez de la Frontera. From then on, Ali spends a lot of time in Andalucia ,
meeting and performing with influential flamenco musicians, singers,
guitarists, and dancers who introduce him to the true universe of
flamenco. Following a tour in Spain and the middle east, Ali Khattab's
first album named "Al Zarqa", (Blue eyed brunette) was released in March 2010 in Madrid, Spain. The artist explained that his music as the
name of his album is like a blue eyed brunnete, a mix of two worlds in
perfect harmony.

A work in which, perhaps for the first time we can talk about fusion, not juxtaposition between these two music styles - arabic and flamenco -, because fusion occurs naturally in individuals, here in the person named Ali Khattab. Juan Vergillos. Diario de Sevilla (Spain)


Band Members