Abaji ||| Mondomix *** musiques du monde *** world music

Moyen-Orient > Lebanon > Abaji

Abaji
The Bedouin troubador accompanies himself on unusual instruments that he plays with virtuosity. While the oud and bouzouki that he uses may not be particularly surprising, his sitar guitar and reed saxophone are a great deal more amazing.

Paris, 2004

play
Abaji describes the wandering blues that has haunted his music since he landed in Orly, France on an airplane from Beirut

play
The five-string sitar that Abaji invented with Team Laser. It has dictated his sound ever since

play
How Abaji lost his roots in the bay of Beirut, and then found them again, thanks to music

Abaji’s many peregrinations have brought him face to face with sounds and instruments that range from the Greek bouzouki to Bali’s bamboo flutes, via Bolivian charango and Mexican percussion. All of these influences came together in December 2004 in his multi-disciplinary show “Isis & Oasis”. His compositions highlight the dancing of Emeline Gillan and the photographs of the Mauritanian desert.
Abaji’s music is born of one of the Middle East’s major tragedies, the 20-year-long civil war in Lebanon. The traumas he escaped from have not blighted his optimism and open-minded desire to study endless musical paths. The multi-instrumentalist’s 2004 exploration of Saharan philosophy and culture was an opportunity to return to an earlier interview, shortly after the release of his album “Bédouin Blues”.

Interviewed by Daniel Brown

Artist website

need Real Player plug-in


	Reviews	Nomad Spirit


Nomad Spirit Network Harmonia Mundi 2005


Oriental Voyage Network Harmonia Mundi 2003


Paris Beyrouth Fairplay Socadisc 2001


Bédouin Blues Fairplay Socadisc 2000

Update date : 2004-12-01

agenda complete listing

programmes complete listing

WOMEX 07
The 14th edition of the World Music Expo. Mondomix brings you the highlights of the showcases and workshops that marked this gathering of world music specialists and retailers.

FADAL DEY
Mondomix devotes this report to the news of a brutal attack against one of the most popular singers in the Côte d’Ivoire, Fadal Dey. The artist was set upon by counterfeiters in Abidjan.

MONDOMIX ON TV5
TV5, the international french speaking TV network is offering Mondomix the opportunity to express the world’s musical diversity.

MONDOMIX FRENCH VERSION
In this month’s French version of Mondomix : BEIHDJA RAHAL , HOMAYOUN SAKHI, HAROUN TEBOUL, VINICIO CAPOSSELA, CHET NUNETA...

reports complete listing