Showing Archived Posts

Karim Shukry’s Take Me Back To Cairo

Posted July 13th, 2012 at 7:34 pm (UTC+0)
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Anglo-Arab pioneer’s song that has become has become an hanthem for the Egyptian diaspora

Fathy Salama, Fusing Jazz, Folk and Traditional Music on the Nile

Posted September 23rd, 2011 at 10:49 pm (UTC+0)
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His mix of jazz, traditional Arabic and roots music is known for bridging the cultural gap

Renowned Pianist Makoto Kuriya Focuses on Maintaining Japan’s Jazz Identity

Posted June 24th, 2011 at 8:01 pm (UTC+0)
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Makoto Kuriya talks with Jazz Beat about his experience with American jazz, how he felt as a Japanese playing American jazz in Europe, and his experience at Cairo Jazz Festival and the Nile cruise Karaoke

John Pizzarelli and Ahmed el-Gebali, Two Brilliant Guitarists

Posted May 25th, 2011 at 4:41 pm (UTC+0)
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American guitarist John Pizzarelli, a chip off the old block, and Egyptian guitarist Ahmed el-Gebali: What do they have in common?

Elizabeth Taylor, The Shadow of Your Smile and Jack Sheldon’s Trumpet Solo

Posted April 1st, 2011 at 9:12 pm (UTC+0)
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My heart melts every time I listen to The Shadow of Your Smile. Besides the lyrics, the utterly brilliant solo by Jazz trumpeter Jack Sheldon brings nostalgia of love

Herbie Hancock on Egypt Revolution & Mideast Democracy

Posted February 23rd, 2011 at 7:54 pm (UTC+0)
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Herbie Hancock’s backstage praises the 18-day Egyptian revolution for democracy, better life and end of corruption

Memory Lane: Brubeck’s Take Five

Posted February 9th, 2011 at 8:23 pm (UTC+0)
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When I hosted Jazz Club USA, I was amazed to have so many requests from listeners in Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Egypt and Iraq to play ‘Take Five’ by the Dave Brubeck Quartet

Egypt, the Hieroglyphics Ensemble

Posted February 3rd, 2011 at 4:05 pm (UTC+0)
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Jazz music, in particular, was forged by civil rights, social struggle and aspirations for a better and peaceful life. In Egypt, the social upheaval just started. It’s called ‘Revolt on the Nile’ or ‘The Lotus Revolution’

A Night in Tunisia

Posted January 25th, 2011 at 4:57 pm (UTC+0)
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“A Night in Tunisia” with its trademark blend of Afro-Cuban rhythms and oriental flow was considered inspirational by many, and became one of the signature pieces of his “be-bop” jazz revolution in 1940s.

About

About Jazz Beat

Diaa BekheetCairo native Diaa Bekheet has worked for a host of media outlets, including Radio Cairo in English, ETV News, Deutsche Presse-Agentur and the Associated Press. He joined VOA in Feb. 1989, hosting a variety of popular news and entertainment shows for the former Arabic Service such as Radio Ride Across America, Business Week, and Jazz Club USA. He has interviewed a number of Jazz celebrities, including the legendary Dizzy Gillespie. Diaa is currently an editor for our main English site, VOAnews.com.

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