Osama Afifi
Encyclopedia
Osama Afifi has been a professional bassist since 1983. He has recorded and performed live with many artists such as U.S. and Canadian tours with Yanni
during the "Reflections of Passion
", "Revolution in Sound
", and "Dare to Dream
" concert tours; a European and Canadian tour with French artist Vanessa Paradis
; and a TV show on VH1
called Storytellers with The Doors
. He worked with Grammy-nominated jazz vocalists Kurt Elling
and Nnenna Freelon
, The 5th Dimension, The Cadillacs
, jazz saxophonist Gary Herbig, singer Debbie Boone, former Miles Davis
keyboardist Kei Akagi
, Doors drummer John Densmore
, Brazilian style guitar duo Hugo Jojo, and jazz trumpeter Tony Guerrero
.
For several years he has been the bassist for the B Sharp Jazz Quartet, who have been recognized by numerous national and regional magazines and newspapers. The Quartet toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe. They performed at the North Sea, Istanbul, Nice, Brecon, and Monterey Jazz Festival
s, to name a few. Afifi ventured into composition, co-writing a song entitled "Nami" that is featured on the group's CD Searching for the One. The song was quoted as "a future Jazz standard" by Billboard Magazine. KLON, a Los Angeles jazz radio station, chose "Nami" to be on their latest compilation CD.
His education includes studies at the Dick Grove School of Music. He also studied with Jeff Berlin
and Gary Willis
.
Yanni
Yanni , born Yiannis Hrysomallis is a Greek self-taught pianist, keyboardist, and composer who has spent most of his life in the United States.He earned Grammy nominations for his 1992 album, Dare to Dream, and the 1993 follow-up, In My Time...
during the "Reflections of Passion
Reflections of Passion
Reflections of Passion, is Yanni's sixth album, released on the Private Music label in 1990, , with a concert tour the same year and same title. Although it is categorized by the RIAA as a full album, all but three of the tracks on the album had been released at least once prior...
", "Revolution in Sound
In Celebration of Life
In Celebration of Life, is Yanni's seventh album, released on the Private Music label in 1991, . It topped at #3 on "Billboard's "Top New Age Albums" chart and at #60 on the "Billboard 200" in the same year....
", and "Dare to Dream
Dare to Dream (Yanni album)
Dare to Dream is Yanni's eighth album, released on the Private Music label in 1992 . The album peaked at #2 on Billboard's "Top New Age Albums" chart and at #32 on the "Billboard 200" chart in the same year...
" concert tours; a European and Canadian tour with French artist Vanessa Paradis
Vanessa Paradis
Vanessa Chantal Paradis is a French singer, model and actress. She became a child star at 14 with the worldwide success of her single "Joe le taxi"...
; and a TV show on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
called Storytellers with The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
. He worked with Grammy-nominated jazz vocalists Kurt Elling
Kurt Elling
Kurt Elling is an American jazz vocalist, composer, lyricist and vocalese performer. Born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Rockford, Elling first became interested in music through his father, who was Kapellmeister at a Lutheran church...
and Nnenna Freelon
Nnenna Freelon
Nnenna Freelon, , is an American jazz singer, composer, producer, and arranger. She has been nominated for five Grammy Awards for her vocal work, and has performed and toured with such top artists as Ray Charles, Ellis Marsalis, Al Jarreau, Anita Baker, Aretha Franklin, Dianne Reeves, Diana Krall,...
, The 5th Dimension, The Cadillacs
The Cadillacs
The Cadillacs were an American rock and roll and doo-wop group from Harlem, New York; active from 1953 to 1962. The group was noted for their 1955 hit "Speedoo", which was instrumental in attracting White audiences to Black rock and roll performers.-History:...
, jazz saxophonist Gary Herbig, singer Debbie Boone, former Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
keyboardist Kei Akagi
Kei Akagi
is a Japanese American jazz pianist most known as a sideman. In particular he is known for his work with the Airto Moreira/Flora Purim group and in Miles Davis's band in the late 1980s and early 1990s....
, Doors drummer John Densmore
John Densmore
John Paul Densmore is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the drummer of the rock group The Doors.-Early life and The Doors:Born in Los Angeles, Densmore attended Santa Monica City College and Cal...
, Brazilian style guitar duo Hugo Jojo, and jazz trumpeter Tony Guerrero
Tony Guerrero
Tony Guerrero is a musician, composer, writer and producer. His career as a jazz trumpeter has spanned over twenty years, starting with the release of his first CD, Tiara in 1988. He has since released seven solo albums, several of which garnered critical praise, Top20 jazz radio play, and...
.
For several years he has been the bassist for the B Sharp Jazz Quartet, who have been recognized by numerous national and regional magazines and newspapers. The Quartet toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe. They performed at the North Sea, Istanbul, Nice, Brecon, and Monterey Jazz Festival
Monterey Jazz Festival
The Monterey Jazz Festival is one of the longest consecutively running jazz festivals. It debuted on October 3, 1958 and was founded by San Francisco jazz radio broadcaster Jimmy Lyons.-History:...
s, to name a few. Afifi ventured into composition, co-writing a song entitled "Nami" that is featured on the group's CD Searching for the One. The song was quoted as "a future Jazz standard" by Billboard Magazine. KLON, a Los Angeles jazz radio station, chose "Nami" to be on their latest compilation CD.
His education includes studies at the Dick Grove School of Music. He also studied with Jeff Berlin
Jeff Berlin
Jeff Berlin is an American jazz, jazz fusion and progressive rock electric bass player.Jeff Berlin's bass playing is somewhat similar to that of Jaco Pastorius, though Berlin plays a fretted bass and has stated his distaste for Jaco imitators.-Early life:Jeff Berlin was born to parents who were...
and Gary Willis
Gary Willis
Gary Willis is an American bassist and composer known foremost as the co-founder of the jazz fusion band Tribal Tech. Aside from his work in Tribal Tech, Willis has worked with numerous other jazz musicians including Wayne Shorter, Dennis Chambers, and Allan Holdsworth...
.