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Dhafer Youssef
Dhafer Youssef is the Tunisian Oud master, vocalist and composer born on November 19th, 1967, in the Tunisian fishing village Teboulba. He grew up in a modest family, coming from a long line of muezzins. Mastering vocal potentials stands as a heritage and a family tradition.
At an early age, his grandfather initiates him to Quranic recitals in which he discovers his vocal potential. Dhafer Youssef starts singing the songs played on his mother’s radio set. His mother’s kitchen becomes his first experimental laboratory. At the age of 6, he discovers the resonance of his voice in his village’s Hammam. This fascinating discovery nourishes his ardent juvenile curiosity: Young Dhafer discovers his favorite toy.
Moved by the child’s beautiful voice, the local muezzin encourages him to carry out the call to prayer in the Mosque. Dhafer starts this task with a very cheap plastic microphone. His voice flows from the top of the minaret. There, he experiences his first encounter with an audience, a moment still engraved in his memory.
A few years later, Dhafer Youssef joins the local liturgical song troupe as a vocalist. Far from places of worship, Dhafer discovers a new toy at the youth center of Teboulba: The Oud. This is also where he discovers Electric Bass and more generally the so-called “groove”. After that, Young Dhafer is selected to join the Tunisian National Troupe by Mesbah Souli.
Aspiring to explore new horizons, Dhafer Youssef leaves his home village for Tunis. There he joins the musical conservatory at Nahj Zarkoun. Dissatisfied with the quality of teaching, he decides to leave for Vienna (Austria) to complete his musical training.
Early Career
Vienna…
In Vienna, the creative exaltation of multiculturalism and his encounters open a new world of possibilities. Whereas he studies musicology, Dhafer realizes that he is not interested in academic training anymore. Seduced by Jazz and other musical genres – such as Indian music – he takes part in numerous jam sessions at different bars and clubs. He then forms his first band called Zeryab with the Austrian percussionist Gerhard Reiter.
First recordings…
In 1996, his multiple discoveries and experiences give birth to his first demo Musafir (The Traveler, in Arabic). This demo is the result of an atypical encounter with Anton Burger, Achim Tang, Jatinder Thakur and Otto Leichner. He presents this project at the renowned Viennese club Porgy & Bess. After a successful first night, he is offered a Carte Blanche which consists in a series of monthly concerts at the club. There he meets Nguyên Lê, the French-Vietnamese guitarist that will later become he’s faithful music companion. He becomes friend with Paolo Fresu, an Italian trumpeter, who invites him to play throughout Europe.
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Dhafer Youssef, Imogen Ryall, Joe Lovano, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson & More
by Ludovico Granvassu
Enjoy a set featuring jazz inspired by a Persian mathematician, Omar Khayyam; jazz which blends with Hindustani and Carnatic music; jazz that meets a chamber string quartet; jazz that pays tribute to Joni Mitchell; and a whole bunch of other jazz permutations.Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Dhafer Youssef Flying Dervish (Omar Khayyam' Suite)" Street of Minarets (Back Beat Edition) 0:16 Host talks 6:10 Shakti Changay Naino" This ...
read moreJapanese band Prism, Argentinian guitarist Juan Cortes and French band Masal
by Len Davis
Omar Hakim, Japanese band Prism, guitarist Juan Cortes, French band Masal, Alex Acuna, the latest from Dhafer Youssef, plus Greg Spero, Erik Escobar, and Polish band Quartado.Playlist Omar Hakim Walk The Walk" from We Are One (OzMosis) 00:00 Prism Tornado" from MemorialLive Tracks (Vivid Japan) 06:18 Juan Cortes Cyborg King" from Wameru (Self Produced) 12:33 Masal Dance Of Fireflies" from Ahora (L'enclume) 18:46 Alex Acuna Mercy Mercy" from Gifts (Le Coq Records) 24:55 Dhafer Youssef Sudra Funk" from ...
read moreTime in Jazz 2018 - Day Concerts
by Roberto Cifarelli
Photos of the Time in Jazz Festival held in Berchidda (Italy) from August 7th to 16th featuring Paolo Fresu, Dhafer Youssef, Gege Munari, Francesco Diodati, Nils Landgren, Marco Bardoscia and many more. ...
read moreDhafer Youssef: Diwan Of Beauty And Odd
by Neri Pollastri
Si rimane letteralmente a bocca aperta ascoltando Fly Shadow Fly," traccia di apertura di questo lavoro del tunisino Dhafer Youssef, qui accompagnato da un gruppo di stelle emergenti: a lungo la sua voce si intreccia al mirabile piano di Aaron Parks, prima descrivendo--in arabo -volute su una tonalità bassa e avvolgente, poi salendo di tono fino ad arrivare dove non si sarebbe creduto possibile, con un'espressività e una suggestione che spezzano il cuore. Un brano magnifico, se non fosse per ...
read moreDhafer Youssef: Birds Requiem
by Glenn Astarita
Tunisian oud maestro Dhafer Youssef imparts a holistic world music vista, encompassing jazz, rock and spiritual inclinations while retaining the core Arabic modalities on the aurally picturesque Birds Requiem. And his chant-like, resonating vocals entwine mystical attributes with near-flawless control amid passages that induce an impression of sacred exchanges with a higher entity. Blending Souls & Shades touches your heart, emanating from Youssef's sprawling vocals, executed with conviction and soulfulness, followed by trumpeter Nils-Petter Molvaer's spiraling lyricism, leading ...
read moreDhafer Youssef: Casablanca, Morocco, April 1, 2013
by Mehdi El Mouden
Dhafer YoussefJazzablanca FestivalCasablanca, MoroccoApril 1, 2013On April 1, 2013, the Jazzablanca Festival audience was in for a unique experience. Programmed on the third day of the festival and subsequent to singer Melody Gardot and Belgium's Vaya Con Dios, singer/oudist Dhafer Youssef traced a journey from mysticism to jazz via rock beats. During the course of 90 minutes, Youssef's voice transported the audience to moments of epiphany where elation and melancholy met, his long vocal solos ...
read moreDhafer Youssef: Abu Nawas Rhapsody
by John Kelman
After two albums exploring the nexus of ages-old Middle Eastern harmony and modernistic electronics, Tunisian-born oudist/vocalist Dhafer Youssef turns to a stripped-down, completely acoustic environs for Abu Nawas Rhapsody. Despite leaving Oslo behind--where, on Digital Prophecy (Enja, 2003) and Divine Shadows (Jazzland, 2006), he collaborated with some of Norway's more intrepid musicians including guitarist Eivind Aarset, pianist Bugge Wesseltoft and trumpeter Arve Henriksen begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting--the Vienna-based Youssef remains associated with the Norwegian scene through his release of the disc on Wesseltoft's ...
read moreJon Hassell & Maarifa Street with Dhafer Youssef at Royce Hall (LA) on February 13th
Source:
All About Jazz
Jon Hassell Brings his Unclassifiable Music to Royce Hall on Feb. 13 as Part of his First U.S. tour in Twenty Years. On the heels of his newest album release, Last night the moon came dropping its clothes in the street, Jon Hassell brings his unclassifiable musical colors and a unique electro-acoustic ensemble, with special guest Tunisian vocalist and oud player Dhafer Youssef, to Royce Hall on Feb. 13 as part of his first U.S. tour in two decades. With ...
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“Dhafer Youssef is one of the most important ambassadors of contemporary music, which fortunately escapes labels and fixed style designations. A delight for the ears.”
Edison Awards 2017