Karim Nagi

Last updated
Karim Nagi
Origin Cairo, Egypt
Occupation(s) Musician
Instrument(s) Tabla, Riqq, Sagat (finger cymbals)
Website www.karimnagi.com

Karim Nagi is an Egyptian musician, composer, ethnic dance artist, and DJ. He specializes in traditional Arabic music but is widely known for his innovative approach. In total he has released fourteen CDs and six DVDs, [1] and he tours internationally performing and teaching.

Contents

Karim Nagi has been an invited speaker and master class instructor at Brown University, Princeton University, Yale University, the University of Chicago, New York University, Boston University, and the University of California Los Angeles, among many others, including international institutions. He has been a featured ethnic dance artist at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival [2] and a featured music artist at the American Folk Festival [3] in Bangor, Maine, in 2004 and Lowell, Mass., in 2005.

In 2001 Karim Nagi started the program Arabiqa, aimed to educate children and adults alike on Arabic culture through music and arts rather than through religion and politics. [4] He is a member of the New England Foundation for the Arts, [5] through which he is a New England States Touring (NEST) [6] artist. [7]

Under the name Turbo Tabla, Karim Nagi has released four albums, two of which were distributed internationally by Universal Records. These albums feature Karim's pioneering technique and unique aesthetic in mixing traditional Arabic sounds with hip hop, techno, and house. More recently, he has been exploring English language spoken word fused with his signature Arab percussion and electronic remixes.

He produces the annual Arab Dance Seminar, [8] now in its fourteenth session, where he invites native and expert instructors to teach dances and culture from around the Arab world over three days every November. He is also the director of the Sharq Ensemble, a group of three to thirteen Arab and American musicians that revives and performs traditional Arabic music. The Ensemble was featured, to wide acclaim, in the Boston Christmas Revels in 2011 [9] and has also performed, toured and released one CD with the Boston Camerata. [10]

Biography

Born in Kuwait, Karim Nagi lived in Egypt until his father received an offer to complete his residency in England. His family then moved to the United States, where his father worked as a radiologist.

Music did not become a central point in Karim's life until he met composer Christopher Stowens, who encouraged him to play percussion instruments and taught him the basics of computer-driven electronic music.

Karim studied philosophy and psychology at Skidmore College, where he was heavily involved in theatre sound production and played guitar and drums in multiple bands on the side.

After his graduation, Karim traveled around India, Turkey, Eastern Europe, and Egypt. At the end of his extended travels in 1995, Karim dedicated himself to the study and performance of Arabic music. He studied with Nabil Ata and Midhat al-Rashidi (who performed regularly with Abdel Halim Hafez), Simon Shaheen, Michel Baqlouq (Fairuz ensemble), Dr. Alfred Gamil (Cairo Conservatory of Music) and Mohammed Al-Araby (percussionist for Umm Kulthum and The National Orchestra of Egypt). He focused on Arabic percussion, including the Arabic Tabla (goblet drum), the Riq, and the Sagat (finger cymbals).

During the 1990s, Karim was well known in Boston for his family's boutique on Newbury Street, his participation in fashion shows, and his skills as a DJ. However, after 9/11, Karim decided to educate people about his culture instead of hiding his identity. His Arabesque Mondays at Club Passim captured Boston's attention. These monthly gatherings aimed to "draw together people interested in traditional [Arabic] music... and educate those who may not be familiar with it." He attracted Boston's attention and revived the Arab music scene in Boston [11]

Karim's educative mission then moved from the club scene to the classroom. [12] He taught Arabic music at The New England Conservatory of Music for five years, and has since been invited to lecture and present at schools, colleges, universities, conservatories, museums, and events (such as SXSW) across the United States and internationally. [13] In the course of his work, including frequent invitations to teach workshops for dance and music studios, he has traveled to and taught on every continent (except Antarctica), in more than 20 countries. [14]

Tradition re-imagined

Karim Nagi has recorded four albums under the moniker of Turbo Tabla: Arabic Music Re-Imagined (2003), Bellydance Overdrive (2004), The Belly and the Beat (2006), and Unregulated (2010). Two were released by The Miles Copeland Group (Sting, R.E.M., Hakim, Bellydance Superstars, Oojami) and are distributed internationally by Universal Records. All include tracks originally composed or arranged by Nagi. They exemplify Karim's principle "tradition re-imagined" - fusing traditional songs, rhythms and sounds from the Arab world with hip-hop, techno and house music.

In 2012 Karim Nagi released two albums under "Karim Nagi," which further developed his philosophy of innovation within tradition. In the first, "Arabized," Karim tackles the concept of Westernization. He reworks recognizable songs from non-Arabic traditions (including American, Chinese, Mexican, Indian, and European), using Arabic instruments and rhythm, i.e. "Arabizing" them. He also makes his first extended foray into vocals on the original track "The Mash of Civilizations," in which he samples several recognizable non-Arab tunes and themes, combines them with Arabic instruments and overlays his spoken word message about cultural collaboration. [15]

"Rhythmatiq," the second album from 2012, showcases Karim's expertise in Arab rhythms. Utilizing samples, tabla, riq, sagat, hand-clapping, and even voice (at times reminiscent of bol (music)), he builds short songs entirely upon a single Arab rhythm or rhythmatic concept. The tracks incorporate cultural context audible to the trained ear and are meant to be mixed and matched, enabling listeners and performers to create their own drum solos. The album opens and closes with two of Karim Nagi's complete drum solos, featuring his signature energetic yet clean tabla technique and demonstrating his structured philosophy to drum solos. Furthermore, the CD packaging includes a chart of all the included rhythms and more, making the album a teaching tool as well. After the release of the album, Karim invited dancers from around the world (all students of his) to choreograph individual pieces. [16]

As a result of his innovative fusion of the traditional and modern, Karim Nagi's music appeals to and is utilized by a wide range of dance artists, from tribal fusion artists like Jill Parker [17] to more traditional Raqs Sharqi artists, like Bozenka. [18] In 2008 he was nominated for the Zaghareet Awards (for those involved in Middle Eastern dance and music in the United States) in the Category of Favorite Musician. [19]

Multi-dimensional performer

Karim Nagi is widely known for his vibrant and energetic performances.[ citation needed ] He integrates his skills as musician, dancer and DJ to make his shows unique and exciting. His signature Turbo Tabla performances involve energetic dancing while playing the tabla, untraditionally strapped over his shoulder. His technique for the tabla strap developed in the context of teaching Dabka and is a well-kept secret. [20]

He is also well known for his ambidextrous approach to playing the Sagat and ability to accompany his own dancing with his musical skill on the instrument. [21]

In addition, he will sometimes break the group tradition of Dabka by performing lively solos.

Musician

While a pioneer in modernizing Arab music, Karim Nagi is also a purist: "Old-Style tradition Arabic music still crushes my soul. It is my first love. It is the only style of music that consistently blisses me." [22]

Although adept at multiple instruments, Karim Nagi's specialty is the Riq. He is sought after for his musicality and intuitive accompaniment skill on the riq, regularly being invited to perform with DC-based band Ana Masry [23] and for the Jawaahir Dance Company in Minneapolis [24]

He is also the founder and director of the Sharq Ensemble. Their mission: To preserve and present traditional and classical Arabic vocal and instrumental music. The ensemble has performed at Harvard University, MIT, UC Santa Barbara, The Boston Center for the Arts, Brooklyn Museum of Art, among many others.

In 2005, The Sharq Ensemble joined the Boston Camerata on the project A Mediterranean Christmas. They released an album and toured France and Germany. The repertoire is based on medieval musical cultures of southern Europe and northern Africa, between 1200-1900. [25]

The Sharq Ensemble formed an integral part of the Boston Christmas Revels in 2011, [26] where they sold out their 2005 album REVIVAL: Wasla Hijazkar and Wasla Bayyati (still available electronically).

Given his expertise in Arab rhythms, Karim Nagi has also released albums aimed at educating listeners about the traditional rhythms found in the Arab world. These CDs include Rhythms from Around the Arab World and Advanced Rhythms for the Advanced Dancer. [27] He has also released instructional DVDs for both tabla and riq. [28]

Dancer

Although primarily known as a musician, Karim Nagi has also trained in traditional Arab folk dances, specifically Dabka and Saidi Raqs al assaya (martial arts-based staff dance from Upper Egypt). He can frequently be seen performing the latter, dressed traditionally in a Galabeya and utilizing a pair of staves. He is widely sought after by dancers to teach Arab folk dances, as well as topics that integrate his knowledge of music and dance, e.g. Musicality for Dancers, Live Drum Solo, Arabic Maqam and Taqsim, and Survey of Arabic Music for Dance. [29]

Deeply invested in placing Arab dance in its cultural context, Karim began producing the Arab Dance Seminar in 2005. This three-day event immerses students in the language, music, social and political context of dances from different parts of the Arab world. The classes are taught by Karim Nagi and teachers whom he personally selects, including native Arabs and non-Arab ethnologists. The Arab Dance Seminar has sold out every year since its inception. [30]

He has also produced an instructional DVD on Arab Folk Dance, which includes lessons in Dabka, Saidi Raqs al assaya (based on Tahtib), Khaleeji, and Sufi ritual dance. [31]

Outreach to non-Arabs

After 9/11 Karim Nagi became acutely aware of the need for cultural education that humanized and depoliticized Arabs and Arab culture. He created Arabiqa, a program he presents in schools around the country in order to bring Arabic music and arts closer to children. He has also presented his Arabiqa program for adults at conferences in Colleges, Universities, Conservatories, and Music events. In 2013 he produced a full-length theatre program based on Arabiqa, which he performed at the YMCA Theatre in Cambridge, MA.

Karim Nagi explains the mission of Arabiqa: "Language and the arts define Arab and Islamic culture. By learning about these unifying themes, one can understand this culture with much more depth and authenticity...My agenda is to demonstrate the depth of Arab art as exemplified in music and dance... Arab culture, through the universal language of music, becomes demystified and humanized. The beauty and authenticity of Arabic music and dance serve as a convincing demonstration of the simultaneous exoticism and familiarity of this ancient culture". [32]

Outreach to the Arab diaspora

With Club Passim in Cambridge, Karim Nagi began the work of connecting the Arab-American diaspora to each other as well as to their traditional culture. As a self-employed professional artist, he encourages Arabs to preserve and participate in the presentation of their traditions. In 2009 he was invited as a panelist at the Diwan conference at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. His presentation, titled Lauren of Arabia addressed the prevalence of non-Arabs in Arab dance culture and encouraged members of the Arab diaspora to represent themselves in the arts. [33]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tambourine</span> Handheld drum with metal jingles

The tambourine is a musical instrument in the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zills". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head. Tambourines are often used with regular percussion sets. They can be mounted, for example on a stand as part of a drum kit, or they can be held in the hand and played by tapping, hitting, or shaking the instrument.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music of Palestine</span>

The music of Palestine is one of many regional subgenres of Arabic music. While it shares much in common with Arabic music, both structurally and instrumentally, there are musical forms and subject matter that are distinctively Palestinian.

Regarding the music of Syria, there are certain musical traditions and practices that have been present in Syria longer than others. There have been musical influences introduced into Syria through multiple eras of conquest and influences from surrounding cultures in modern-day Syria. Lying near Egypt and Israel, and connected to southern Europe by the Mediterranean, Syria became host to many distinct cultural musics through trade and route. The music present in Syria is related greatly to poetry, influenced greatly by the Bedouin nomadic tribes, the maqam system in Arabic classical music, as well as influenced greatly by the geopolitical movement and conflict in the Middle East. Syrian music generally has a singer who is accompanied by three or four instruments. The texture is usually thin but can become denser depending on the use of each instrument. Music is tightly linked to poetry in Syria.

The various nations of the region include the Arabic-speaking countries of the Middle East, the Iranian traditions of Persia, the Jewish music of Israel and the diaspora, Armenian music. Azeri Music, the varied traditions of Cypriot music, the Turkish music of Turkey, traditional Assyrian music, Coptic ritual music in Egypt as well as other genres of Egyptian music in general. It is widely regarded that some Middle-Eastern musical styles have influenced Central Asia, as well as the Balkans and Spain.

<i>Dabke</i> Levantine folk dance

Dabke is a Levantine folk dance, particularly popular among Lebanese, Jordanian, Palestinian and Syrian communities. Dabke combines circle dance and line dancing and is widely performed at weddings and other joyous occasions. The line forms from right to left and the leader of the dabke heads the line, alternating between facing the audience and the other dancers. In English, it can be transcribed as dabka, dabki, dabkeh.

Joel Cohen is an American musician specializing in early music repertoires. Cohen graduated from Classical High School in Providence, Rhode Island in 1959, and Brown University in 1963. He continued graduate education at Harvard University. From 1968 to 2008, he was the director of the Boston Camerata, a prominent American early music ensemble. He remains connected to the Boston Camerata as Music Director Emeritus. Cohen founded the Camerata Mediterranea in 1990 and incorporated it as a nonprofit research institute in France in 2007. He plays the lute and guitar, as well as sings. He is best known as an organizer and creator of concert programs and sound recordings. He has also written extensively on musical topics. In recent years, Cohen's research and performance activities have centered on early American repertoires, as well as Southern European repertoires of the Middle Ages. Many of his projects in this latter category involve collaboration with Middle Eastern musicians.

Dances in Iran or Iranian dances are dance styles indigenous to Iran. Genres of dance in Iran vary depending on the area, culture, and language of the local people, and can range from sophisticated reconstructions of refined court dances to energetic folk dances. The population of Iran includes many ethnicities, such as Kurds, Azerbaijanis, Arabs, Baluchis, Turkmen, Jews, Armenian, Georgian peoples, in addition to numerous Iranian tribal groups which can be found within the borders of modern-day Iran. Each group, region, and historical epoch has specific dance styles associated with it. Raghs is the Arabic word for dance, and is almost exclusively the word used for dance in Persian, as the Persian word for dance, paykubi, is no longer in common usage. It is also the word in Azerbaijani for dance (Reqs). The Kurdish word for dance is Halperke, and the Lurs from Lorestan use the word Bākhten for dance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arab culture</span> Culture of the Arab people

Arab culture is the culture of the Arabs, from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the east, in a region of the Middle East and North Africa known as the Arab world. The various religions the Arabs have adopted throughout their history and the various empires and kingdoms that have ruled and took lead of the civilization have contributed to the ethnogenesis and formation of modern Arab culture. Language, literature, gastronomy, art, architecture, music, spirituality, philosophy and mysticism are all part of the cultural heritage of the Arabs.

Baladi can refer to an Egyptian musical style, the folk style of Egyptian bellydance, or the Masmoudi Sogheir rhythm, which is frequently used in baladi music. It is also sometimes spelled in English as 'beledi' or 'baladee'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Palestine</span> Overview of the Palestinian culture

The culture of Palestinians is influenced by the many diverse cultures and religions which have existed in the historical region of Palestine and the state of Palestine. The cultural and linguistic heritage of Palestinian Arabs along with Lebanese, Syrians, and Jordanians is integral part of levantine Arab culture

The traditional dances of the Middle East span a large variety of folk traditions throughout North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.

Camerata Mediterranea is a French and American nonprofit organization and an international, intercultural institute of musical exchanges. Camerata Mediterranea devotes itself to research, dialogue, and pedagogy involving the diverse musical civilizations of the Mediterranean basin, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim. It aims to revive the value of forgotten interactions and intends to reestablish a dialogue, at once artistic, intellectual and human, among civilizations.

Mohamed Abdelwahab Abdelfattah is an Egyptian composer of contemporary classical music and educator. He is a member of Egypt's third generation of classical composers.

Jerry Leake is an American world percussionist, composer, author, and educator who specializes in Indian, African, Caribbean, and jazz traditions. He is experienced with flamenco, Turkish and Middle Eastern styles.

The Brothers of the Baladi is an American world music band based in Portland, Oregon. They play both traditional Middle Eastern music, and also combines traditional Middle Eastern and western sounds and instruments for a unique Worldbeat sound. Band leader/percussionist/vocalist Michael Beach provides lyrics in Arabic, Turkish, Persian, French, Spanish, Kurdish, Armenian and English, and the band features many traditional Middle Eastern instruments including oud, saz, mizmar, midjwiz, arghool, doumbek, riq, def, tar, bendir and davul.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belly dance</span> Type of Middle Eastern dance

Belly dance is a Middle Eastern dance that originated in Egypt, which features movements of the hips and torso. A Western-coined exonym, it is also referred to as Middle Eastern dance or Arabic dance. It has evolved to take many different forms depending on the country and region, both in costume and dance style; with the styles and costumes of Egypt being the most recognized worldwide due to Egyptian cinema. Belly dancing in its various forms and styles is popular across the globe where it is taught by a multitude of schools of dance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto Tabla Ensemble</span>

The Toronto Tabla Ensemble (TTE) is a non-profit charitable organization founded by Artistic Director and tabla master Ritesh Das. The performing ensemble has toured Canada coast-to-coast six times, toured Australia in 2006, and India in 2011.

The Duhulla is a type of bass drum that is commonly found in Arabic percussion. Usually, it is played along with the Tabla, Goblet drum, Darabuka, Riq (tambourine), and Daf Duhulla, sometimes referred to as Doholla, or Bass Darabuka, is mostly found across the Middle East. Used mostly in festival settings, it is part of many trans-regional traditional music and dance across the Arab world. It is very similar to the Darabuka, but it is a larger version and has a deeper sound.

The following are the special concepts and terminology of belly dance. As this dance has many forms and can be found in North Africa and the Middle East, a significant proportion of the terminology is in Arabic. Turkish or Turkish-loan words may also be encountered among belly dance terms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arab folk dances</span> Traditional folk dances of the Arab world

Arab folk dances, also referred to as Oriental dance, Middle-Eastern dance and Eastern dance, are the traditional folk dances of the Arabs in Arab world. Arab dance has many different styles, including the three main types of folklore, classical, and contemporary. It is enjoyed and implemented throughout the Arab region, from North Africa to the Middle East.

References

  1. ↑ "KARIM NAGI / Arab Tradition Re-Imagined / Arabic Music, Dance & Culture / Percussionist , Folk Dancer , DJ, Composer". karimnagi.com. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  2. ↑ "Jacob's Pillow | Dance Festival, School, Archives & Community Programs". Jacob's Pillow. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  3. ↑ Festival, The American Folk. "The American Folk Festival on the Bangor Waterfront". The American Folk Festival on the Bangor Waterfront. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  4. ↑ "ARABIQA Arabic Music, Dance & Culture with Karim Nagi / School Presentations, Assemblies, Concerts & Outreach". karimnagi.com. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  5. ↑ "NEFA". NEFA. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  6. ↑ "New England States Touring (NEST) Grant". NEFA. 2008-01-01. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  7. ↑ "ARABIQA by Karim Nagi". CreativeGround. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  8. ↑ "The ARAB DANCE SEMINAR by Karim Nagi / Los Angeles / November 2-4, 2018". arabdanceseminar.com. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  9. ↑ Harding, Chris (2011-12-22). "Revels returns Christmas story to its roots in the Middle East". Dorchester Reporter.
  10. ↑ "Mediterranean Christmas: Boston Camerata and the Sharq ensemble". Archived from the original on 2008-05-09. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  11. ↑ Barchas, Elizabeth (2001-08-17). "The Oasis". The Boston Globe. pp. D1, D12. Archived from the original on October 1, 2014.
  12. ↑ Kaufman, Hayley (2002-10-10). "Growing interest in Arabic music in Boston has ushered in a Middle East medley". The Boston Globe. pp. B14, B20. Archived from the original on 2016-04-09.
  13. ↑ "Lectures and Master Classes by Karim Nagi". Archived from the original on 2014-09-28. Retrieved 2014-09-27.
  14. ↑ "KARIM NAGI  : CALENDAR SPRING 2018 / Arab Future Folklore / Arabic Music, Dance & Culture / Percussionist, Folk Dancer, DJ, Composer". karimnagi.com. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  15. ↑ Karim Nagi (2012-02-09), The Mash of Civilizations by Karim Nagi : Arabized, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2018-03-19
  16. ↑ "Karim Nagi's "RhythmatiQ" website". Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-09-27.
  17. ↑ MissSFinSF (2011-06-23), Tribal Fest 11 - Jill Parker & the Foxglove Sweethearts Part 1, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2018-03-19
  18. ↑ Denise J Marino (2010-02-26), Bozenka at BBA Karim Nagi Show 2-20-10.mov , retrieved 2018-03-19[ dead YouTube link ]
  19. ↑ "Zaghareet Polls". zaghareet.freeservers.com. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  20. ↑ Karim Nagi (2013-02-19), KARIM NAGI : Artist Profile : Arab musician & folklorist documentary, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2018-03-19
  21. ↑
  22. ↑ "About Turbo Tabla". Archived from the original on 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  23. ↑ Ana Masry website
  24. ↑ "Ritz Theater, Minneapolis". Archived from the original on 2014-09-28. Retrieved 2014-09-27.
  25. ↑ Dyer, Richard (2004-12-15). "Boston Camerata 'Christmas' has a Middle Eastern flair". The Boston Globe.
  26. ↑ Harding, Chris (2011-12-22). "Revels returns Christmas story to its roots in the Middle East". Dorchester Reporter.
  27. ↑ "Karim Nagi's Discography". Archived from the original on 2014-09-28. Retrieved 2014-09-27.
  28. ↑ "DVDs by Karim Nagi". Archived from the original on 2014-09-28. Retrieved 2014-09-27.
  29. ↑ "Workshops offered by Karim Nagi". Archived from the original on 2014-09-28. Retrieved 2014-09-27.
  30. ↑ "Karim Nagi's 8th Annual Arab Dance Seminar: Raqs Egypt". Dance Doc's Think Tank. 2011-11-09. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  31. ↑ "DVDs by Karim Nagi". Archived from the original on 2014-09-28. Retrieved 2014-09-27.
  32. ↑ "MISSION: Arabic Music, Dance & Culture with Karim Nagi - Mohammed / School Presentations, Concerts and Outreach". karimnagi.com. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  33. ↑ Karim Nagi (2011-09-03), Lauren of Arabia lecture by Karim Nagi, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2018-03-19

Other sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.