ARIFA
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ARIFA

Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands | Established. Jan 01, 2010 | INDIE

Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands | INDIE
Established on Jan, 2010
Band World Jazz

Calendar

Music

Press


"Arifa - Press on "Anatolian Alchemy" Album"

Press on "Anatolian Alchemy" Album

"Arifa strikes gold. This is music that can make you shiver with delight"
(Songlines - Feb 2013)
"The alchemical formula of this band resmables of some poetic productions of ECM lablel"
(MONDOMIX - Jan 2013)


"Their music is just as diverse as their origins, moving from traditional Turkish and Arabic orient sounds to jazz and classical music. Arifa's inspired arrangements and inventive compositions create an intense, radiant atmosphere."
(Jazzahead 2013)

"This sumptuous album places Arifa very high in the pantheon of world music in Europe.
We where conquered by this album which breaths the wind,the space,the time and the infinite"
(Babel Med - France, 2012)

"The music of this unconventional ensemble is not just animated, its thrilling, it's not obtrusive but intrusive. Arifa was the biggest surprise of the 2010 Dutch Jazz & World Meeting."
(VPRO magazine, Dec '12)

"The group "Arifa," which was founded in Amsterdam in 2010 and appeared two years ago in Cuba, returned with their mix of Eastern music and jazz. It was a special moment for many people to hear such intense and emotional music, equally powerful and so different to the passion that characterizes to Cuban works."
(Havana LIbre, Nov 2012)

"Words, nor stars, can do this record justice. The only option is to remain in silence. Beyond Babylon, the first album of this exquisite quartet, was already delightful, and Anatolian Alchemy easily exceeds it."
(Mixedworldmusic.com by Ton Maas - Oct '12)
"Arifa is one of the top world music groups our country [The Netherlands] has to offer. In every way a world class record."
(Lust for Life online magazine, Dec'12)

"By upholding the intimate ambiance and by maintaining the precedence of (musical) depth over an easy gratification of the audience, the eleven tracks form an inviolable cohesion."
(Jazzflits, Dec'12)

"The band members originating from The Netherlands, Romania, Turkey and Germany braid a mystical landscape comprised of their musical heritage. They do so with more confidence than on their highly acclaimed debut album two years ago."
(NRC national newspaper, Nov'12)

"Meticulous, almost cinematographic soundscapes - enticing and melancholic."
(Trouw national newspaper, Nov'12)
"Ancient wisdom from the East is reinterpreted through an enlightened Western conceptual framework, resulting in splendid musical alchemy."
(Parool national newspaper, Nov'12)

"Seemingly simple themes are transformed into little gems, stimulating and activating the soul by adding irregular modes and rhythms."
(Musicframes.nl Oct '12)

Older Press

Songlines Magazine UK sep 2011
Arifa combines the musical heritage of Babylon, Istanbul, Bucharest and Amsterdam with electronics and contemporary improvisations. The result transcends the sum of its parts and a journey far into the realm of imagination.

Mixed World Music Magazine, 2 Dec 2010
Beyond Babylon - voted best world music release of 2010 Made In The Netherlands.

Volkskrant - Neherlands, 4 Nov 2010 5 *****
In its exquisite beauty this debut album holds up to the level of the best works of Anouar Brahem.

Music Center Netherlands 21 sep 2011
Dutch quartet Arifa is currently one of the most promising Dutch world music ensembles around. Moving between traditional oriental sounds, jazz and improvised music.

Songlines, 4 Feb 2011
The originality of the arrangements find its match in truly fresh compositions, and daring instrumentation, harmonies and melodies.

Granma, La Havana, Cuba 21 Dec 2010
With Arifa, the boundaries of jazz are limitless, and they introduced to the Cuban public fantastic Middle-Eastern music profoundly combined with jazz.

Birmingham City University, 3 Dec 2010
Arifa were a big hit with the whole Birmingham City University team at the Dutch Jazz World Meeting.

NRC Handelsblad, 21 Jan 2011****
Through their music, one enters the translucent world of dream landscapes.

Volkskrant, Neherlands, 15 feb 2010 5 *****
The compositions, though unmistakably rooted in Turkish or classical Arabic music, are subtly harmonized and injected with styles borrowed from jazz, Balkan music and contemporary Western classical music. This makes for a fiery and compelling ensemble.

Leidsch Dagblad, 21 Feb 2011
"Immediately after the start of the concert, the qualities of the band Arifa, founded only a year ago, shined through. The quartet plays chamber music that leads the listeners far away from their daily burdens. With standing ovations the audience expressed their appreciation for Arifa's music."

Radio 6, Netherlands 3 Jan 2011
Top-quality musicians do not necessarily produce naturally interesting music. Arifa, however, is even greater than the sum of its parts."

Slagwerkkrant (The Drummers Magazine) 24 Mar 2011
Arifa's album "Beyond Babylon" has a wonderful atmosphere, starting with moving, new-age-like sounds and evolves into a rich oriental, sometimes wild adventure.

Cultuur Podium, Netherlands, 27 Feb 2010
Arifa enchanted the Bimhuis audience with fascinating music from the Middle East.

Studio Globe, 22 Jan 2011
The sound of Arifa is a musical voyage of magical scales and subtle nuances where the listener enters its sound and becomes the center point of its interactions. Only to realize much later that being one with music is still possible in this crazy, hectic world of ours. A masterpiece!

Find Us






- Press on "Anatolian Alchemy" Album


"Arifa on Press 2010 - 2012"

Songlines Magazine UK sep 2011
Arifa combines the musical heritage of Babylon, Istanbul, Bucharest and Amsterdam with electronics and contemporary improvisations. The result transcends the sum of its parts and a journey far into the realm of imagination.

Mixed World Music Magazine, 2 Dec 2010
Beyond Babylon - voted best world music release of 2010 Made In The Netherlands.

Volkskrant - Neherlands, 4 Nov 2010 5 *****
In its exquisite beauty this debut album holds up to the level of the best works of Anouar Brahem.

Music Center Netherlands 21 sep 2011
Dutch quartet Arifa is currently one of the most promising Dutch world music ensembles around. Moving between traditional oriental sounds, jazz and improvised music.

Songlines, 4 Feb 2011
The originality of the arrangements find its match in truly fresh compositions, and daring instrumentation, harmonies and melodies.

Granma, La Havana, Cuba 21 Dec 2010
With Arifa, the boundaries of jazz are limitless, and they introduced to the Cuban public fantastic Middle-Eastern music profoundly combined with jazz.

Birmingham City University, 3 Dec 2010
Arifa were a big hit with the whole Birmingham City University team at the Dutch Jazz World Meeting.

NRC Handelsblad, 21 Jan 2011****
Through their music, one enters the translucent world of dream landscapes.

Volkskrant, Neherlands, 15 feb 2010 5 *****
The compositions, though unmistakably rooted in Turkish or classical Arabic music, are subtly harmonized and injected with styles borrowed from jazz, Balkan music and contemporary Western classical music. This makes for a fiery and compelling ensemble.

Leidsch Dagblad, 21 Feb 2011
"Immediately after the start of the concert, the qualities of the band Arifa, founded only a year ago, shined through. The quartet plays chamber music that leads the listeners far away from their daily burdens. With standing ovations the audience expressed their appreciation for Arifa's music."

Radio 6, Netherlands 3 Jan 2011
Top-quality musicians do not necessarily produce naturally interesting music. Arifa, however, is even greater than the sum of its parts."

Slagwerkkrant (The Drummers Magazine) 24 Mar 2011
Arifa's album "Beyond Babylon" has a wonderful atmosphere, starting with moving, new-age-like sounds and evolves into a rich oriental, sometimes wild adventure.

Cultuur Podium, Netherlands, 27 Feb 2010
Arifa enchanted the Bimhuis audience with fascinating music from the Middle East.

Studio Globe, 22 Jan 2011
The sound of Arifa is a musical voyage of magical scales and subtle nuances where the listener enters its sound and becomes the center point of its interactions. Only to realize much later that being one with music is still possible in this crazy, hectic world of ours. A masterpiece! - Diverse Newspaper & Magazines etc from Cuba till Turkey


Discography

Arifa - Anatolian Alchemy - 2012(released by Mundus production) 
- chosen as SONGLINES Top of The World Album, March 2013!
- voted #1 album of 2012 by Dutch online magazine Mixedworldmusic.com

Arifa - Beyond Babylon - 2010  (released by Mundus production) 
- voted best world music release of 2010 Made In The Netherlands.

Video link: ANATOLIAN ALCHEMY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnWNf-pRr3Y&list=UU3GebdEEL9Nhf2FZLwcHCfg&index=8

Photos

Bio

Arifa quartet was founded in 2010 in Amsterdam.  Since then they have performed at festivals in Spain, France, Cuba, Mexico, Netherlands, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, Denmark, Canada, Colombia, Poland, Romania, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland, USA & United Kingdom. 

They have been collaborating with amazing artists as: Aynur Dogan, Arto Tunboyacyan, Theodosii Spassov, Voices from the East, Senol Filiz, Jorge Reyes, the Gypsies of Rajasthan and Jahida Wehbe, resulting in concerts, recordings and tours. 

Anatolian Alchemy is the second album by Dutch based Arifa, since the founding in 2010 they have played in 5 continents. Arifa' s debut album Beyond Babylon received five star reviews and was highly acclaimed internationally. 

Arifa's secret is the creative chemistry between its four members. Coming from Greece, Romania, Turkey, the Netherlands and Germany their music is just as diverse as their origins, moving from traditional Turkish and Balkan sounds to jazz and classical music. 

Alex Simu (Ro) clarinet & live laptop                                                                                                                                            

Michalis Cholevas (Greece) tarhu & ney                                                                                                                                                    

Franz von Chossy (DE) piano                                                                                                                                                               

Sjahin During (TR/NL) percussion set 


Arifa "A bridge of sounds between the Orient and Occident"

Ancient musical traditions from the Middle East and Balkans are blended with jazz and contemporary improvised music through a Western frame of mind.

 Ancient musical traditions from the Middle East and Balkans are blended with jazz and contemporary improvised music through a Western frame of mind. 

Arifa showcased at the Dutch Jazz & World Meeting 2010 - causing a buzz among global presenters. Their performance at Jazzahead April 2013 further launched their reputation for their fresh and original take on ancient timbres, quality techniques, impro and well balanced formula.

"Arifa strikes gold. This is music that can make you shiver with delight"
(Songlines - Feb 2013)


Upcoming concerts: 

March 20 2015  "Cave 61" Heilbronn (DE)

January 17 2015  Theater Ludens, Voorburg (NL)

January 24 Strasbourg (FR)

January 23, 2015  Papillon Bleu, Roanne (FR)

November 19 2014 London Jazz Festival (UK)

October 23 2014  Synagoge Amsterdam (NL)

October 2-7 2014 Korea tour (tba)

Sep 27 - 1 October 2014 China tour (tba)

July 24 2014 Festival Nantes (FR)

July 12 2014 Mezrab Amsterdam (NL) 

July 11 2014 Heilloo (NL)

June 11 2014 Moods Zurich (CH)

May 1  2014  Ollin Kan Festival (MX)

May 3 2014  Ollin Kan Festival (MX)

May 5 2014  Ollin Kan Festival (MX)

April 5, 2014 Arcub - Bucharest (RO)

Band Members