Fathy Salama in Philadelphia

Al-Bustan is pleased to present our second guest artist for the 2014 Spring season. Grammy and BBC Award winner FATHY SALAMA will be in Philadelphia for a 5-day residency that includes rehearsals, workshops, and demonstrations, culminating in a concert on April 27.

In concert with Al-Bustan Takht Ensemble:

Hanna Khoury – violin
Kinan Idnawi – oud
Hicham Chami – qanun
Kinan Abou-afach – cello
Hafez Kotain – percussion
Location: Trinity Center for Urban Life, 22nd and Spruce Street

Fathy Salama, an Egyptian composer and pianist, is a Grammy and BBC Awards winner. His music is rooted in the Golden Age of Arab music in Egypt, as well as Egyptian folk music, “al-musiqa al-sha’abiyya” of different regions such as the Sa’aid in Upper Egypt. Additionally, Salama’s music is inspired by Islamic traditions including “musiqa al-mawled,” (Muslim rituals). As a pianist, Salama was exposed to Western compositions from an early age. He studied the music of Bartok and Tchaikovsky among others. However, it was Jazz that inspired him to develop a new musical form and harmonic structure in Arab music. He studied Jazz with Barry Harris, Hal Galper, Milk Osman, Pat Patrick, and Sun Ra. Salama composed and arranged the Grammy Award winning album “Egypt” by Youssu Ndour. He composed music for the Egyptian National Theater and the musical score for “Al-Mosafer” film staring Omar Al-Sharif. Salama won two first place prizes in the Cairo International Film Festival for the soundtracks of “Fallen Angels Paradise” and “Signs of April.” He is frequently invited to Jazz festivals across the world, and has served as an artistic advisor to launch the first International Jazz Festival in Egypt in 2008. Salama’s ensemble Sharkiat has recorded and toured widely, merging the traditional and modern.