Mamdouh Bahri
Encyclopedia
Mamdouh Bahri is a jazz
guitarist
who has combined Afro-Mediterranean music with a jazz tradition.
, France
, where he later taught music at Jazz Action Montpellier (JAM) until 1991.
From 1989 to 1993, he played in a quartet with pianist Horace Parlan
, Italian bassist Riccardo Del Fra and New Orleans drummer Idris Muhammad
. In 1991, they recorded the CD "From Tunisia with Love" live in Carthage
. That year, Bahri moved to New York City where he joined the collective Spirit of Life Ensemble with saxophonist T.K. Blue, trumpeter Ted Curson
and drummer Winard Harper
among others, recording seven albums with the group between 1993 and 2002.
Bahri has played in many concerts throughout France. He has also performed in northern Europe, the Middle East, China and in the United States. Bahri has appeared on broadcast television in Tunis and Abu Dhabi
. His recordings have gotten radio airplay in France, the New York City
area of the United States and Tunisia.
With Spirit of Life Ensemble (USA/Japan)
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
who has combined Afro-Mediterranean music with a jazz tradition.
Biography
Bahri grew up in Tunisia and at the age of 25 came to MontpellierMontpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where he later taught music at Jazz Action Montpellier (JAM) until 1991.
From 1989 to 1993, he played in a quartet with pianist Horace Parlan
Horace Parlan
Horace Parlan is an American hard bop and post-bop piano player.He is noted for his contributions to the classic Charles Mingus recordings Mingus Ah Um and Blues & Roots....
, Italian bassist Riccardo Del Fra and New Orleans drummer Idris Muhammad
Idris Muhammad
Idris Muhammad is a jazz drummer. He changed his name in the 1960s upon his conversion to Islam. He is known for his funky playing style. He has released a number of albums as leader, and has played with a number of jazz legends including Lou Donaldson, Johnny Griffin, Pharoah Sanders and Grover...
. In 1991, they recorded the CD "From Tunisia with Love" live in Carthage
Carthage
Carthage , implying it was a 'new Tyre') is a major urban centre that has existed for nearly 3,000 years on the Gulf of Tunis, developing from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC...
. That year, Bahri moved to New York City where he joined the collective Spirit of Life Ensemble with saxophonist T.K. Blue, trumpeter Ted Curson
Ted Curson
Theodore "Ted" Curson is a jazz trumpeter. He is perhaps best-known for recording and performing with Charles Mingus....
and drummer Winard Harper
Winard Harper
Hiram Winard Harper is an American jazz drummer.Harper played in the 1980s with Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin, and Betty Carter, the last for four years. While working with Carter he met Wycliffe Gordon, with whom he would collaborate repeatedly...
among others, recording seven albums with the group between 1993 and 2002.
Bahri has played in many concerts throughout France. He has also performed in northern Europe, the Middle East, China and in the United States. Bahri has appeared on broadcast television in Tunis and Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
. His recordings have gotten radio airplay in France, the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
area of the United States and Tunisia.
Discography
Mamdouh Bahri (France)- Tabarka, CD: JMA 0511-1 (2005)
- African Flame, CD: Aljazzira JC 55004 (1998)
- Nefta-les portes du désert, CD: ZZ 84110 MFA (1993)
- 1992: From Tunisia with Love (52e Rue Est)
- "Song for Sarah", K7: Aljazzira JK 55001 (1987)
With Spirit of Life Ensemble (USA/Japan)
- Live au Duc, CD: RUP 100-12 (2002)
- Song for My Father, CD: KICJ 361 (1998)
- Collage, CD: RUP 100-10 (1998)
- Live at Pori Jazz, CD: RUP 100-9 (1997)
- Live! At the 5 Spot, NY, CD: RUP 100-8 (1995)
- Feel the Spirit, CD: RUP 100-4 (1994)
- Inspirations, CD: RUP 100-3 (1993)