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Andaloussia
Band performs is the Washington DC area. The band plays North
African Music. The band plays Aasri music which is "modern
chaabi". Through the years and after a mixture of many music
styles introduces by the different members,Andaloussia band has
brough a new way to play modern North African music.
Band
Members:
Meziane
/ Lead Singer
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Meziane
was born in Algiers, the birthplace of Chaabi music. He
is the lead singer of the band and plays a Mandol, which
is a traditional Chaabi instrument found almost exclusively
in Algeria. If you are born in Algiers, and even if you
do experience other style of music, your inspiration and
influence will undoubtedly come from Al-Anka (The Phoenix),
Guerrouabi (The Nightingale), E'Zahi (The Romantic and Lover),
and many other names of Chaabi music. He started as Bonjo
player (a core instrument in Chaabi) with many Chaabi singers
in Algiers. Soon he created a band with his two brothers,
cousin and a friend, and animated many parties and concerts
in Algeria.In the U.S., he joined the Andalucia since its
creation and debut (in fact, he is one of the founders of
the band). He would tell you, that “Andalucia”
was a very special band: Almost all members were from Algiers
(and from the same neighborhood in Algiers!!!!), |
but every and each single one had its own musical influence,
some were influenced by French music, Berber, other by Spanish,
Jazz, Blues…Rai...and so on. But, all had one and
a common influence (since they are from Algiers): Chaabi.
The result was simple: A wonderful blend of many styles
and rhythms with strong and beautiful Chaabi connotations.
One of the many challenges for the band and Meziane was
to try modernizing traditional Chaabi. This was expressed
throughout the first released songs "El-Mektoub",
"Aouin Aouin, and Aouin" and "Men sab maa
lemlih lila" (could be the equivalent of One night
with you) and "Daani ya nadim fi chorbi" Andaloucia
band has gone through many changes. A few members quit.
Meziane is now building another band with Karim.L, Hmida.E
and Said.H. One of his ambitions is that one day Andaloussia
band will turn to success for all the titanic efforts made
by the members to promote the Algerian Music with its fantastic
characteristics. |
Karim /Keyboard
<<
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Karim
is the keyboard player. He has started playing guitar in
the late 80s. He then, made his own "guitar" out
of some hard paper, fishing strings and a few pieces of
wood. The first song he learned to play...sorry....the first
song he was trying to play, was "YA LOULED DIROU HALLA",
famous for algerian soccer fans.
After almost a year, with a few classmates in high school
he stated to play some Beatles, Diar Straights, Pink Floyd
etc.. not with the same guitare, though. Karim got a new
guitar for his birthday.
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Afer
a while, he started picking on the keys of a very old Piano
at his Grand father's place (may he rest in peace). He then
started to play keyboard once a while. In
the 90s, Karim joined a Chaabi band, (algerian popular Music).
After
a year or two, he learned a few "Istikhbarettes"
a few "Twasha" other few "Krissiyettes"
and very other few "Inssirafettes". Well, a few
little things from all this huge world of Algerian music
helped Karim get on board of Andaloussia band.
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Hmida /Guitare
<<
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Hmida's
musical background is influenced by a multitude of styles
ranging from Rock, Classical and Latin Jazz, French contemporary
songs, Flamenco and New Age as well as Andalusian music.
He started playing with a band during his university years
in Algeria where he experimented with modern Algerian-Andalusian
music styles. After coming to the US, where he has been
for the past twenty years, he settled in Washington D.C
in 1991 where he started a band that played mostly Berber
and French songs at events organized by Algerians living
in the D.C, area. |
As
Meziane, the Chaabi singer, joined "Andalusia",
he found an opportunity and a challenge to modernize the
traditional Chaabi music; the resulting music is a wonderful
blend between the unpredictable tempos of Algerian Chaabi
and the rhythms of western and Latin music. His passion
for music is expressed through numerous instrumental pieces
that he has created and arranged with the Band such as Cirta,
Blaoui's Danza (or indicatif), Andalusian Bolero (or Cirta
II), Sunset or "the lights that gave me tears"
and the "Cartenna ballad" (African flamenco).
He has got many musical ambissions, most of which him and
his new band (Karim, and Meziane)will turn to success.
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