THE JAZZ NETWORK ~ "A GREAT PLACE TO HANG"
Chaouki Smahi's Page
Profile Information
- Marital Status
- married
- Where are you located?
- Switzerland
- Tell us a little about you....
- Chaouki Smahi,was born 1963 in Morocco and brought up in Algeria, is both musician and IT specialist. His love for music goes back to his childhood, but his father’s wish was that he should concentrate on his studies. Secretly he built his own instruments and practised whenever he could spare some time. So it came that already in his home country the autodidact played with great musicians such as Cheb Khaled and starred in numerous radio and TV broadcasts. At the age of 27 Chaouki Smahi went to Germany where he took his doctor’s degree in IT, worked and played music. His wide range of talents brought him success on all levels.
His music:
Chaouki Smahi is one of the greatest masters of the oud, the Arabic lute. He also plays the violin and other instruments, he sings and composes. In his genius compositions modern urban and traditional rhythms fuse to a new completeness. The different cords of the North African music are inspired by the Arabic and Andalusia musical traditions and influenced by the modern Algerian Raï music and Desert Grooves. Meeting with contemporary elements of jazz a new and independent sound is created interweaving tradition and cosmopolitan jazz language. The result is a broad range of a multifarious World Music which sometimes is very dynamic and electrifying and at other times contemplative and deeply touching the heart of the listener.
His projects with other musicians:
After accompanying Wadi El Safi, the king of Arabic music, on his German tour Chaouki Smahi also worked with other world famous musicians. He met jazz saxophonist Charlie Mariano at a concert. Subsequently Charlie Mariano, Chaouki Smahi and his brother Yahia Smahi, an excellent percussionist and bassist, set up the formation Nassim (morning breeze). They already performed on numerous occasions and also produced a CD Charlie Mariano¨s Nassim .
Beside the Nassim project with Charlie Mariano the Smahi Brothers accompanied also the legendary saxophonist Pharoah Sanders (music partner of John Coltrane) on one of his European tours. They were invited to the United States by Pharoah Sanders. They played together in several concerts, f. ex. In the New York Jazz Club “Iridium” and at diffrents International Jazz Festivals . In the USA the Smahi Brothers also worked with Roy Badal, Alex Blak, Hamid Drack, Santi Debriano, William Henderson .
Chaouki Smahi organized a unique charity concert in favour of the Algerian victims of an earthquake. International top musicians of different musical and religious backgrounds (Christians, Muslims and Buddhists) united in a German church and played jazz together. Along with the Smahi Brothers there was Charlie Mariano, bassist Dave King, T.A.S. Mani, the Indian drum genius and founder of the Indian Karnataka College of Percussion, the Indian master of Vocal Improvisation R.A. Ramamani and last but not least Quique Sinesi, the Argentine guitarist who’s music contains elements of the classical tango and jazz.
- How did you hear about the Jazz Network?
- from Nora McCarthy
- Website:
- http://www.chaoukismahi.com
INSPIRATIONAL CORNER
Uncle Hugh 'Peanuts' Whalum is my 80 year-old uncle who has FORGOTTEN more about jazz than I've even learned yet! He released his CD "Introducing Hugh 'Peanuts' Whalum" after gigging in the St. Louis scene for over 55 years! Needless to say his voice, his saxophone, his piano... like a fine, aged Merlot. His energy?! I dare not try and keep up. I'm on stage falling asleep by the time he gets going good – cut from a different cloth. Arnette, Coleman, Hamp, Hank... fine cloth.
Why do I bring them up? Because they represent something really important that we now get to enjoy, like they did back then, but now through technology on sites like this, that we've been missing.
The good news, since family – in this case JAZZ FAMILY – and relationships are much more important, more fulfilling... is that I feel RICHER knowing and following you guys music on THE JAZZ NETWORK!
Sincerely,
Kirk WHALUM
www.kirkwhalum.com
"Congratulations on your creativity, energy and dedication to Jazz, knowing and have worked with your Dad ~ its all in the genes".
~Clem De Rosa
Professional Musician, Educator, Arranger, Composer and Band Leader
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Just click your favorite artist, its as easy as 1-2-1-2-3-4!! :-)
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If you have interest in having a featured spot, want to be spotlighted, promote a 'gig' or CD release party with a flyer or banner, stream your gigs live from a venue worldwide, give a shout-out for any reason ~ post a press release...have a business we should know about?... or even a "sneak peek" of your upcoming release? How about managers looking for artists, or indie labels looking for submissions...This is the place to do it!
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If you are interested in becoming a client, please let her know.
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Contact her here on the site to discuss your creative thoughts!
Happy Networking!
:-)
Artwork courtesy of Jeff Laibson
SPOTLIGHTED ARTISTS
Finding THE JAZZ NETWORK has been an amazing experience for Musique Noire. The opportunity to not only gain exposure among the jazz community, but to also learn and network with others in the jazz world has been invaluable. It is a place where we are all treated equally, whether one is a major label act or an indie artist, whether one plays traditional jazz or any of the "branches" of the jazz Family "tree".
Musique Noire is honored to be spotlighted here and are deeply grateful to Jaijai for creating this wonderful world. We're here to stay!
~ Musique Noire
Jaijai, what a wonderful mission you've undertaken to create such a place for artistic minds to meet and share their hearts. A place to renew faded determinations, and revive lessened momentums. A place to display our wares and reconfirm to one another that we actually are on the right track.
I commend you, Jaijai, for caring so much that you created this castle of the heart for all of us. I want to share my praise for all of the new friends as well as old friends that I've met and will meet here in our castle. Here we can garnish the where-with-all, the strength, the conviction, and the selflessness through our symbiosis, to share our gift to the world with an unbiased agenda.
My mentor, Daisaku Ikeda says of art: "A beautiful flower delights and refreshes the hearts of all people equally, no matter what soil it grows in. That is the power of beauty. The same is true of great art. It is this spirit that the German poet Heinrich Heine sang of when he wrote that once the peapod bursts open, the sugar peas inside are for everyone to enjoy."
Let's be audacious, my friends!
Buster Williams
"It was a pleasure to be featured on the Jazz Network Main Page. This Network is a unique forward step for independence, contact and conversation between artist, promoters/agents and fans.
Thank you Jaijai for offering a professional meeting place. I've met new musicians and rediscovered old friends I haven't seen or heard from in years. May we all continue to expand this network.
~ Will Calhoun
"I think that what Jaijai Jackson has done with the Jazz Network shows how the eternal love for this music is passed down from generation to generation. The fire her father lit in her has burned brightly and has inspired her to pass this torch on to future generations. I'm very proud to be featured and I'm very happy that Jazz has a voice and spirit like Jaijai looking after it."
~ Ron Kearns
I am so honored to be on The Jazz Network with so many wonderful and dedicated musicians. Jazz is the truly American art form and as I travel to other countries I find that their appreciation for jazz is really uplifting. There are so many excellent jazz musicians around the world now and The Jazz Network is helping us to find each other. Thank goodness for people like Jaijai who have dedicated so much time and effort to keep the jazz community together and for opening doors to us that we may never have found.
Regarding education in jazz, having done Master Classes in many places I find students need to take time and learn from the Masters and LISTEN. They should go back in history to appreciate ALL styles of jazz and its development. They need to learn melodies and lyrics (yes, even instrumentalists need to know lyrics) and that jazz is not just a series of modes and riffs. I think The Jazz Network can be an excellent tool for that also.
Thank you Jaijai...you are awesome!
~ Lenore Raphael
"Thank you Jaijai for creating a space for the likes of me! I truly enjoy being featured here and really hope it can give me new contacts and opportunities.
Keep up the good work!"
~ Patrick Rydman
Sweden
"The Jazz Network has come into being at just the right time. I believe that we are forever in need of spiritual and artistic enrichment and the way I see it, music, particularly jazz music, is all about the spirit. The Jazz Network allows us to reach out to our fellow artists across the world, in a way that has not been seen before, enlightening us as to who's out there making hip and happening music and helping to shape the culture. Whether artists approach this music from traditional perspectives or attempt to create new and radical sub-genres of jazz, the Jazz Network
is providing exposure, performance and recording opportunities that we might never have found on our own.
The Jazz Network is an amazing resource for the Jazz community. I'm
honored and happy to be a part of it.
Jaijai, thanks for your faith and what you're doing for the jazz community"
Best,
Nicolas
It’s a rare occasion when you meet someone who you feel a real connection to … Someone who possesses a kind spirit, unyielding generosity and a dedication to the jazz community beyond expectations.
Jaijai, thank you so much for creating such a fantastic website for the jazz community. You’ve helped artists connect with each other around the world.
I’m proud to have The Jazz Network be the first site to promote my latest recording. Words cannot express my gratitude to you for your dedication to the music and the artists.
With much love and gratitude,
Denise Donatelli
Hi Jaijai,
Stopping by to show you some love and tell you just how much I appreciate all you've been doing here, not just for me but for this incredible community of jazz musicians. I see that The Jazz Network is growing in leaps and bounds daily and want you to know that I recognize the importance of what's going on here, musicians having a place to connect with each other, young musicians having a place to meet and be mentored by musicians who have been around the block. You've created a beautiful space here and it's obvious that folks are feeling very much at home. Thanks for sharing your time, your heart, your soul. This is a huge commitment and you've taken it on with such determination. I wish you and The Jazz Network continued success and support you in all you're doing.
~ Marcus
© 2008 Created by Jaijai Jackson aka. "Woman of Jazz"
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Comment Wall (7 comments)
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Ray
Ray
I saw an oud played on the national news here in the US a few days ago. It was my first experience hearing one. What an interesting instrument!
Mikayla
Be Blessed
Wayne Cobham
Success in all that you do,
Nora