Arts Canteen and Grand Junction proudly commemorates Egypt’s legendary vocalist Abdel Halim Hafez with a performance by the HarfousH Jazz Band led by Egyptian vocalist Ahmed Harfoush
The concert will feature songs from the Egyptian icon’s film and studio recordings from the 1950s and 60s in a new jazz and Latino sound as part of Harfoush’s music project titled The Egyptian Jazz Projekt.
Abdel Halim Hafez, also known as Al-Andaleeb Al-Asmar (The Black Nightingale), was famous beyond the Egyptian arts scene. Dubbed the “King of Arabic Music,” “The Voice of the People,” “The Son of the Revolution,” and “King of Emotions and Feelings,” his songs were masterpieces of collaborative efforts by some of the Arab world’s best poets and composers.
The evening is presented by Arts Canteen in collaboration with Grand Junction
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Abdel Halim Hafez, who was also known as Al-Andaleeb Al-Asmar (The Black Nightingale), was famous beyond the Egyptian arts scene. Dubbed the “King of Arabic Music,” “The Voice of the People,” “The Son of the Revolution,” and “King of Emotions and Feelings,” his songs were masterpieces of collaborative efforts by some of the Arab world’s best poets and composers.
In his lifetime, Abdul Halim Hafez recorded more than 300 songs, produced many of them himself as he was the co-founder of the famous Egyptian recording company Soutelphan which operates as a subsidiary of EMI Arabia today.
Abdul Halim’s fame echoed beyond Egypt as he held concerts in almost every Arab country and occasionally sang in Europe, including on the stage of the Royal Albert Hall, where Abdul Halim received one of the greatest ovations of his career singing after the Egyptian setback in 1967.
Hafez was born on 21 June, 1929, in a small village called “Halawat, Sharqia” (Egypt) he was graduated from the Academy of Arabic Music in 1948 then he joined the Egyptian radio in 1952.
Hafez acted and sang in some 16 movies. His songs are still hummed by young generations, listened inside cars and played on radios as in parties.
Ahmed Harfoush – vocals
Featuring The Harfoush Jazz Band
The Egyptian Jazz Projekt (EJP) was founded in 2015 by Egyptian jazz vocalist Ahmed Harfoush after forming the HarfousH Jazz Band based in London. The nostalgic jazz revival of 1950s Egyptian songs won the hearts of Egyptians and Arabs from across the Middle East. Worldwide performances of the EJP include Royal Albert Hall, The Egyptian Art Academy in Rome, Dubai Opera, Cairo Opera House and as part of the 2018 and 2019 London Jazz Festival.
Ahmed Harfoush is an Egyptian jazz vocalist based in London who appears at leading venues and events throughout Europe and the Middle East. His repertoire is extensive, including traditional American jazz and swing, musical theatre, Arabic songs and contemporary hits.
The Egyptian Jazz Projekt aims at exposing the Egyptian music legacy to the world with many collaborations of diverse jazz artists