Egypt Strut

Description

Inspired by a concert in Cairo by Randy Weston in 1967 encouraging PanAfrican unity, drummer Ragab, Eduard ‘Edu’ Vizvari, a Czech jazz musician, and Hartmut Geerken of Goethe Institut vowed to create Egypt’s first jazz big band. Following the Arab-Israeli war, Ragab became a Major in the Egyptian army and had unparalleled access to the military’s 3000 musicians spanning Upper and Lower Egypt, along with a wide range of instruments. Part of the barracks were christened the Jazz House and, following a crash course in jazz history by Geerken, the Cairo Jazz Band was born, playing their first concert at Ewart Memorial Hall at the American University in 1969.

Tracklisting

Disc 1
1. Oriental Mood – Salah Ragab and the Cairo Jazz Band (4.45)
2. Dawn – Salah Ragab and the Cairo Jazz Band (8.04)
3. Mervat – Salah Ragab and the Cairo Jazz Band (4.17)
4. Ramadan in Space Time – Salah Ragab and the Cairo Jazz Band (4.20)
5. Kleopatra – Salah Ragab and the Cairo Jazz Band (5.04)
6. Neveen – Salah Ragab and the Cairo Jazz Band (7.54)