Cairo Steps, the Egyptian band which merges traditional and oriental grooves with modern jazz, last week released a new video of their original composition, entitled Siwa, on YouTube and Instagram.
The concert took place as part of the Arabic Music Festival 2020, in which the band performed with the Cairo Opera Orchestra at the Cairo Opera House’s Fountain Stage. The concert was conducted by Nayer Nagui.
Siwa is one of the most popular compositions by Cairo Steps, composed by the band’s leader and oud player Basem Darwisch. It has been performed numerous times in many venues.
Minister of Culture Inas Abdel Dayem has frequently joined the ensemble on the flute, one of the most prominent instruments carrying the melody line in Siwa.
In the recently released video, however, the flute is played by Huda Abd Elazim, with the piece modified for the orchestra by Mohamed Saad Basha.
In the video, the Cairo Opera Orchestra features: Basem Darwisch (oud); Rami Attallah (piano); Ragy Kamal (kanoun); John Sami (nay); Wael El Sayed (accordion); Huda Abd Elazim (flute); Kareem Hossam (e-bass); Azeema (percussions); Hany Al Sawaf (req and duff); Mohamed Labib (saxophone); Jan Boshra (cello); and violinists Emad Azmy, Shereen Azmy, Shady Abdelsalam, and Nehad Gamaleldin.
Cairo Steps was founded in 2002 as collaboration between Darwisch and German pianist Matthias Frey. It has performed extensively in Egypt and Germany, and on many other international stages.
The band brings together numerous music genres into one melting pot, including traditional Egyptian and Oriental grooves, Sufi traditions, Western classical music, European ethnic music and jazz improvisation.
