Hailed as "a new musical language that unites the East & West" Tarik & Julia Banzi present programs integrate a holistic approach to Andalusian music combining Andalusi', Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) and Spanish Andalusian with contemporary compositions rooted in Andalusian legacy that embrace the multicultural world we live in today.
A unique group of musicians, scholars, singers, dancers and visual artists from diverse countries the Maghreb (Morocco, North Africa), USA, Spain and the Far East, the Al-Andalus ensemble brings the spirit of Al-Andalus from the past into the present. Our message is to bridge Eastern and Western cultures through music and bring the spirit of convivencia of Al-Andalus back to live amongst us all.
The music of Tarik & Julia Banzi with their ensemble Al-Andalus (www.Andalus.com) is a fusion of folkloric beauty and contemporary tension epitomizing our situation in the modern world. Together, they create a new music that challenges traditionalists and leaves the adventurous wanting more. The Banzi's have given a holistic treatment to the oldest, continuous tradition of art music, the extraordinary Andalusian heritage. Not since multi-cultural, medieval al-Andalus (c.711-1492 a.d.) have casidas, noubas, Cantigas, Andalusian and flamenco dance merged together with Judeo-Spanish, Ladino songs to combine as living, breathing art forms.
To see Al-Andalus play will make you look at art with a different eye, and music with a more readily challenged ear. Al-Andalus's sonic genealogy draws from a rich array of root sources -- Arabic, Castilian, Jewish, Romany, Jazz and African to create a refreshing, contemporary, contemplative music. Performing with the likes of Paco de Lucia, Yehudi Menuhin & Michael Shrieve (Santana), teachers to the founders of Radio Tarifa, Al-Andalus's music has cast a wide and lasting web of influence. Most of all, the Banzi's create music that will turn your head around, touch your heart and your soul.
The Presenters page has detailed information, bios, press releases, photos & stage sets for the ensemble in its different formations.You may download a printable .pdf about the group here
The Banzi's who coined the term 'Contemporary Andalusian' (c. 1987) to describe their approach to Andalusian music that melds the past with the present to create historically informed and esthetically pleasing renditions of traditional musics as well compositions which embrace rich treasures of the past and bring them into the present. We perform new, contemporary compositions rooted in the Andalusian legacy, additionally, our programming strives to represent equally three palatable manifestations' of the Andalusian legacy: Andalusi', Judeo-Spanish (Ladino), Flamenco musics as well as their palatable antecedents (i.e. Flamenco has important Indian music influences).
"The
best example of cultural integration" (YA; Madrid,Spain) (more quotes)
In 2004 alone, Al-Andalus was honored to have performed for Queen
Sophia of Spain, Lady Princess Haifa Al-Saud and was the only
musical group selected for the festival of Al- Washington DC.
The same season they performed at the Smithsonian Museum, National
Gallery, Embassies of Jordan & Egypt, Ford Center (LA), New
York, Canada, Festival 3 Culturas de Murcia, Toledo, Spain School
of Translation & numerous concerts in Sevilla as part
Noches Mediterraneos (Ayunatamiento de Sevilla).
Al-Andalus has just finished their fifth album Alchemy' (2006). Their new formation adds Noureddine Chekara, torchbearer of the famed Abdelsadek Chekara family current professor of Andalusian music, voice & violin at the Tetuan Conservatory of (Morocco) and, Virtudes Sanchez Moreno (Cadiz, Spain) whose voice combines her Andalusian heritage, flamenco, canto lirico Espanol as well as her classical vocal training she received life at conservatories in Conil, Sevilla and Madrid with multi-lingual vocal skills marrying tradition and progress with skill and know how.
We now make our home between Tangier, Morocco
and Portland, Oregon USA. You can learn about the many other Al-Andalus
different CD's.
