Baladi Blues - Egyptian Street Music
Artists: Guy Schalom with Sheikh Taha, Ahmed El Saidi and Adam Warne
What the CD says:
What is Baladi?
The short answer is - Urban Egyptian Folk Music
The long answer involves the translation of the word itself - 'of the country' - and mention of the mass migration of folk musicians to the cities of Cairo and Alexandria. Through exposure to European music, these 'sons and daughters of the country' transferred their folk tunes to cosmopolitan instruments such as the accordion, saxophone and trumpet.
The new 'hybrid' centre seemed to satisfy the Egyptian sense of national pride whilst helping progress and rejuvenate the old traditions which, developing alongside the dance, took on a fresh, urban, more playful character, and became hugely popular. The arrangements lent themselves to much improvisation and baladi artists were true masters of improvisation, whether soloist, drummer or dancer.
The main thing is that it's amazing music and almost in danger of being forgotten as new generations look to the west for their inspiration and increasingly use computers and electronic instruments .
This album is a tribute to the 'baladi masters' (two of whom - Sheikh Taha and Ahmed el Saidi - are featured here) and is a contemporary reminder that baladi music is a living art form - as fresh as ever.
Guy Schalom
1) Aziza
2) Ya Della Alla Kifuk
3) Lelet Hob
4) Salameta Mu Hassan
5) Sax Taxim
6) Bint al Balad
7) Mkadeir
8) Tabla Taxim
9) Nawal
10) Alexandria
11) Amint Billah
12) Raqs ala el Riq
13) Samah el Noba
