DIASPORA

Diaspora has finished recording Reggae Arabesques This is Diaspora first self penned album. Here is some info for you: Diaspora was born out of a previous music collaboration between Luca Gatti and Stephane Rene while working on the soundtrack for Antonio Capuano’s movie “Lunarossa” presented at the Venice Film Festival in 2001. The word Diaspora connotes migration, cultural cross-fertilization and adequately describes the musical diversity of our multi-ethnic society which we wish to reflect.From cairo, Rome to Istanbul, different traditions co-mingle with modern technology in an organic way, always preferring live playing over sampling when at all possible. In 2006 Diaspora was commissioned by the English National Opera to co-compose and arrange the score for the Opera ‘Gaddafi: A living myth” Staged at the London Coliseum, in collaboration with Asian Dub Foundation   The idea of exploring the relationship between reggae and Oriental music germinated when Stephane Rene was living between Egypt, Jamaica and the UK.  The result should give something close to King David's music, often referred to by old Rastafarians. There is no doubt that reggae music is firmly rooted in Africa with an add mixture of gospel, blues and other western musical idioms.  Reggae Arabesques seeks to widen these influences to Sudan, Egypt, the Levant and beyond.   Reggae rhythms such as fundi or one drop are readily mixable with traditional Nile rhythms , hence the use of both, the kete drum and the darbouka.   Likewise with the Arabic  scale system, or maqam such as maqam Bayyati in Ya Salam, where a simplified form of the scale (minus quarter tone) is used to great effect. Reggae Arabesques introduces an organic world reggae and re-presents this already well established musical medium and takes it to new shores.     Stephane Rene is a versatile French composer/musician who specializes in traditional stringed instruments. He has lived internationally and his cultural eclecticism is strongly reflected in his music.   Luca Gatti, an Italian composer, producer living in London who has worked with various artists in England and Italy including General Levy, Feelgood Productions, 99 Posse, Gaudi and Asian Dub Foundation.   Amina Annabi is a French Tunisian singer who rose to fame in the wake of the world music explosion in the 1980's.   She has become a symbol of successful 'metissage', fusing her traditional Arab roots with modern Western styles.   Baheeg Ramzy Mikhail is an Egyptian master of the Maqam, the Arabic scale system.  During his long career he has worked with all the greats of Arabic music, including  Mohammed Abdel Wahab and the legendary Om Kalthoum.  He is a crucial source of knowledge and inspiration to us all and a key member of Diaspora.   Bob Andy is a veteran of the Jamaican reggae music scene.  As one of Studio One's leading lights, he worked closely with Jackie Mittoo on many of the label's seminal sounds. Since then he has been ceaselessly composing, recording and performing and remains a household name in the firmament of reggae stars.   Raiz is the ex front-man of Italian cult band Almamegretta. He has a number of important featuring under his belt, including recordings with Dub Master Bill Laswell, Leftfield ( Rhythm and Stealth ) and Massive attack (Karmakoma) He wonderfully  fuses Neapolitan, English and Italian in his lyrics.