Album Notes

This CD was Described as "An interesting innovation on the musical and artistic scene in our region" in TUNIS HEBDO. "Phrygian Istikhbar" features a unique and contemporary blend of jazz, Arabic, and Tunisian rhythms and sounds by one of the finest jazz pianists on the Tunisian musical stage...

"PHRYGIAN ISTIKHBAR" features compositions of pianist Wajdi Cherif which are a mixture of jazz, Tunisian classical and folkloric musical traditions and rhythms. You can hear arabic percussions such as "Darbouka" or "Bendir" played by the distinguished Tunisian percussion player "Habib Samandi" on "El Gasba" or "Phrygian Istikhbar". "Voyage", the opening tilte begins with a very soulful introduction played piano solo on arabic modes and scales, soon followed by the melody that leads to the masterful improvisations of percussion player Habib Samandi. "Blurred Vision" presents a bass solo by Diego Imbert that goes in perfect harmony with the fantastic arabic rhythms played by Habib...

MUSICIANS ON "PHRYGIAN ISTIKHBAR"

Wajdi Cherif: piano, composition, arrangements.
Habib Samandi: tunisian percussion (derbouka, bendir).
Jeff Boudreau: drums.
Diègo Imbert: akoustic Bass.

REVIEWS ABOUT THE CD:

"Tunisian pianist Wajdi Cherif with his CD EP Phrygian Istikhbar, while retaining the flavour of his native country's music, places more emphasis on the jazz tradition, resulting in a fresh new sound that brings a different slant to the concept of world music". John Kelman (www.jazzreview.com)

"On the short programme of Phrygian Istikhbar, Cherif covers a lot of territory. From the romantic solo piece "Tunis by Night" to the bendir-driven title track to the Bill Evans-informed, lightly-swinging "Waiting for Paris", Cherif shows himself to be a diverse and interesting composer and performer". John Kelman (www.ejazznews.com)

"I like fusions and mixing genres and have to say it didn't disappoint. Cherif is a young pianist and composer who has a clear vision of how he can merge the melodies and rhythms of Tunisia with the verve of a jazz quartet". Paul Donnelly (www.jazzreview.com)

"An interesting innovation on the musical and artistic scene in our region" TUNIS HEBDO (June 2003).

"Each composition is opened with a typical tunisian musical style or sound but moves gradually to harmonies charged with the imagination and the [musical] sensitivity of [pianist] wajdi cherif." TUNIS HEBDO June 2003. (www.tunishebdo.tn)

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WAJDI CHEIRIF: Short Biography

Pianist Wajdi Cherif, a native of Tunisia, has emerged as an important young artist on the concert stage in his country. Wajdi Cherif who resides now in PARIS, France, is a versatile musician known both as an accomplished composer and pianist mixing jazz with the sounds and rhythms of tunisia. After accompagning famous tunisian artists for 7 years in many renowned venues in Tunisia, France and Italy, he set himself recently as a leader to his own band. His distinctive performances as a leader received critical acclaim. He received in 2001 a sponsorship from the Ministry of Culture in tunisia to record his first album "PHRYGIAN ISTIKHBAR". Among his most recent performances were concerts in Tunis, in such important events such as "jazz à Tunis" in 2001 where he played an opening for one of the jazz giants "Archie Shepp", in addition to his participation with his quartet in the "Tabarka Jazz Festival" the same year. He led the jazz workshops in this festival too with well known guest artists such as Paco Sery, Aldi Meola, Freddy Ravel, etc. Among his recent performances are "Majazz Festival" (2003) in Algeria, "Tabarka Jazz Festival" (Tunisia), Tanjazz (Moroco), Institut du Monde Arabe (Paris), Carthage International Festival etc. Please Visit the artist's website for upcoming performances at www.wajdicherif.com

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