Georges Kazazian Explained

Georges Kazazian
Birth Date:25 January 1953
Birth Place:Cairo, Egypt
Genre:Contemporary, oriental, world music, jazz
Occupation:Composer
Oud player
Instrument:Oud

Georges Kazazian (Arabic: جـورج كازازيان) (born 25 Jan 1953[1]) is an Egyptian-Armenian composer and oud player.[2] He moved between two cultures in the vicinity of his cosmopolitan society, a feature of the social and demographic structure of Cairo at that time, which contributed to its open and decentralized compositions.[3]

Early life and career

Georges Kazazian was born into an Egyptian-Armenian family in Cairo, Egypt in 1953.[4] He completed his musical training as a self-taught artist.[5]

In 1991, after composing music for theater and film during the 1980s, he released his debut album Sabil.[5]

Georges Kazazian has performed around the world in prestigious venues, including at the Pyramids of Egypt and in India, in the project Neel Prayag with Indian maestro Shivkumar Sharma, in 2003.[6]

Collaborations

In 2004, Georges Kazazian created the project Ocre and collaborated with French trumpet player Michel Marre and percussionist Ravi Magnifique.[3]

In 2009, Georges Kazazian and Rahul Sharma collaborated and released the album, Meeting By The Nile produced by Saregama.[7] [8]

In 2010, Georges Kazazian created Project Sabil and collaborated with Albin Brun, saxophone player.[9] In 2011, he performed with flamenco guitarist Pedro Soler in Paris and Montreal.[10] [11]

He created the White Lotus Project in 2011, in collaboration with accordion player Patricia Draeger, and saxophone player, Luca Sisera double bass, Chris Brown drums. Concerts were held in Egypt and Switzerland.[12]

Georges Kazazian's son, Tigrane Kazazian, is also a composer, oud player and multi-instrumentalist. Georges and Tigrane Kazazian collaborate through the project they have jointly created, the Nour project, with performances at The Opera House in Cairo, Egypt, in 2017 and in Yerevan, Armenia, in 2016.[13]

Discography

Albums

Documentary soundtracks

Feature films

External links

Notes and References

  1. Brief biographical info provided by the publisher of a number of Georges Kazazian's records in France: Al Sur
  2. Web site: George Kazazian to perform at El Sawy Culturewheel - Music - Arts & Culture. Ahram Online.
  3. Web site: ADIC - V - Arrméniens et Musique arabo-musulmane. www.globalarmenianheritage-adic.fr.
  4. Web site: East is East. July 21, 2009.
  5. Web site: Georges Kazazian | Artisti | Romaeuropa. September 14, 2010.
  6. News: Pandit & the Pyramids - Times of India. The Times of India. 25 September 2003 .
  7. News: Call of the valley. Harsh. Kabra. The Hindu . September 6, 2009. www.thehindu.com.
  8. Web site: Santoor meets the Oud. September 19, 2009. Deccan Herald.
  9. Web site: Ensemble Sabil – White Lotus Project - Musik der Welt - SRF. Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF).
  10. Web site: NOVEMBRE 2011 - Spectacles et Musiques du Monde. www.musiquesdumonde.fr.
  11. Web site: 12e Festival du monde arabe - Les indignés, les fusionnistes et les classiques. Yves. Bernard. October 22, 2011. Le Devoir.
  12. Web site: White Lotus Project at El-Sawy Culture Wheel - Music - Arts & Culture. Ahram Online.
  13. Web site: Ahram Hebdo - les favoris de l'Hebdo.
  14. Web site: Art Alert: Composer and oud player Georges Kazazian at AUC Tahrir Cultural Center - Music - Arts & Culture. Ahram Online.