DUDU TASSA
Herzliya, Tel Aviv, Israel | INDIE
Music
Press
The minute the show started, you could feel the musical fusion right in front of you. As oriental music started to rise from the stage, Dudu Tassa's electric guitars could have seemed out of place, but that is exactly what created the magic. - Jerusalem Post
An Israeli rocker sets a modern groove to his Iraqi grandfather’s Arabic music -
Even if you don’t know the back story, Dudu Tassa & the Kuwaitis is a great album and a fabulous surprise. On it, one of Israel’s best-known rock musicians updates the classic songs of the Al-Kuwaity brothers, Jewish-Iraqi entertainers from the 1930s and ’40s whose vintage recordings are still treasured throughout the Arab world. - Alexander Varty
"One of the unique and exciting projects of the past year was Dudu Tassa's Kuwaitis album. Album full of Iraqi classics an updated and wonderful album design.
Dudu Tassa and Nir Maymon skillfully managed to take the echoes of the songs he heard of his uncle as a child and cradle them in a warm and enveloping sound which combines East and West, drums, rock and roll, and guitars.
He produced impressive arrangements and new colorful life to his uncle's songs. The committee has decided to entitle them with the '2012 arrangement of the year award' for this album. " - Acum Organization for Israeli royalties
"His last album, a journey to his Iraqi musical roots 'Dudu Tassa and the Kuweitis' earned great reviews and is selling well. The concerts are considered unique. A wild stage animal with a huge soul". - Yediot Tel Aviv newspaper
"I love the album - looking for play opportunities" - Norman Lebrecht BBC Evening Standard
"The album sounds like Rachid Taha plugs in with Chaabi music on Led Zeppelins amplifier" (free-translation from French). - Francis Dordor - Les Inrockuptibles Dec 2011
Discography
1990 (age 13!): "Loving the Songs"
2000: "Clearer"
2003: "Out of Choice"
2004: "Exactly on Time"
2006: "Lola"
2009: "In the End You Get Used to Everything"
2010: "After a Night of Noise"
2011: "Dudu Tassa and the Kuwaitis"
2013 " Dizzyness
2014 " IR OBEHALOT "City and Nightmares"
Photos
Bio
Dudu Tassa grew up in Tel-Aviv in the 1980s and released his first album at the age of 13. Tassa is one of Israel's most prominent singer-songwriters and guitarist on demand as well as a dominant figure in the Israeli rock scene.
Tassa released 8 albums and has also produced albums for other artists. He has composed for television and cinema, including the opening song of the show "A star is born", the Israeli version of "American Idol".
Furthermore, he was nominated for best sound track in a feature film entitled Kululush. In 2009 Dudu released his sixth album-"In The End You Get Used To Everything". The album included the single "What A Day" that was frequently played on radio stations and in which guitarist Jonny Greenwood, member of Radiohead, participated.
Dudu Tassa continues to be at his peak as one of the most popular rock artists in Israel.
Being of Iraqi-Jewish descent, Dudus research into his roots revealed an amazing musical story. Dudu Tassas grandfather and his brother, known as the Al-Kuwaiti brothers, were the greatest composers-musicians in Baghdad during the first half of the 20th century and acclaimed innovators and creators of modern Iraqi music, still highly esteemed in the Arab world despite their Jewish origin. In his recent album released in 2011, "Dudu Tassa and the Al Kuwaitis", he salutes the Al-Kuwaitis, sings their songs in Arabic and Hebrew, and integrates Iraqi, Middle-eastern, and Israeli rock music in a unique style.
The album features archival materials from the Kuwaitis and singer Faiza Rushdie as well as up to date artists such as Yair Dalal on the oud and well-known rock vocalists Berry Sakharov and Yehudit Ravitz.
A documentary film titled: "Iraq' n Roll" has been recently produced about Dudu Tassa and the story of the Al Kuwaiti brothers.
In addition to the powerful voice, musicianship, and energy of Dudu Tassa, this show is also correcting an historic injustice by promoting an important chapter in the history of popular Arabic music.
Band Members
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