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Tunisian vocalist and master musician Dhafer Youssef fuses Sufi traditions with cool, contemporary electronica and jazz. With vocals, Oud, Tabla, electric guitar and Koehne String Quartet, the performance by Dhafer and his band is a much-anticipated event for local world music enthusiasts.
"Dhafer Youssef Divine Shadows" is one of the programmes of the Mediterranean Arts Festival presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The concert to be followed by a post-performance talk will be staged at 8pm on November 3 (Saturday) at Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall.
Inspired by Sufi mysticism, Dhafer Youssef blends traditional compositions, songs and oud playing into tomorrow's world through his cosmopolitan musical partnerships. Moving to Europe in 1990, the innovative composer-performer has forged a fresh musical genre from his free-ranging exchanges with some of the most progressive jazz musicians on the scene.
Dhafer Youssef's music lifts listeners to a higher plane, where the fusion of traditional sounds from the shores of North Africa, cool electronica and jazz from Europe creates an explosive new musical vocabulary.
Born in a small seaside town in Tunisia in 1967, Dhafer Youssef's music opens the way to a new definition of East-Western crossover. In 1999, he released Malak which was enthusiastically accepted by critics and led to solid concert appearances.
"Time Out" appraised: "...the Tunisian vocalist and oud virtuoso juxtaposes the ancient, mystical, hypnotic music of Sufism with the textures of electric jazz".
Tickets for "Dhafer Youssef Divine Shadows" priced at $360, $240 and $120 are available at URBTIX outlets. Half-price tickets are available for full-time students, senior citizens, people with disabilities and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. Booking discounts of up to 20% are available.
Programme brochures are now available at URBTIX outlets or at the website www.medifestival.gov.hk.
For programme enquiries, please call 2370 1044. Telephone reservations can be made on 2734 9009 and credit card telephone bookings on 2111 5999. Internet bookings can be made at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Issued at HKT 11:48
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