By: Buthayna El Haggar
The Cairo Jazz Festival (CJF) returns for its 16th edition from October 31 to November 8, 2024, promising an exciting lineup of performances, workshops, and cultural activities. The festival will take place at the American University in Cairo’s Tahrir Cultural Center, with additional performances in Alexandria and Damanhur.
This year’s festival features over 20 performances from more than 25 musicians representing 15 countries. This diverse array of talent highlights the rich tapestry of both local and international artists who will grace the stage.
In addition to these mesmerizing performances, the festival will also host a variety of workshops and discussion panels, offering opportunities for deeper engagement with the music community. Here’s a glimpse of some of the happenings you can look forward to:
Performances
Hany Shenouda & El Massrieen Band (Egypt)
Led by visionary composer Hany Shenouda, El Massrieen, which began in the 70s, has left a lasting influence on the landscape of modern Egyptian music by pioneering a blend of traditional Arabic melodies with contemporary Western rhythms. The band will perform at Ewart Hall on AUC’s Tahrir Square campus.
Shenouda has collaborated with many notable artists, including Abdel Halim Hafez, Mohamed Mounir, and Salah Jaheen. He also composed the original score for the popular 2024 Egyptian series Hala Khasa.
Noha Fekry (Egypt)
Noha Fekry is an Egyptian singer and songwriter who was part of the Riff band from 2008 to 2016 before establishing her own jazz ensemble. Her performances encompass jazz standards as well as Arabic and globally recognized songs, all reimagined in her group’s unique jazz style.
Her compositions reflect themes of love, pain, adventure, and hope. She will present her original works in collaboration with acclaimed Egyptian arranger and bassist Steven Simon. They are set to perform at Ewart Hall on AUC’s Tahrir Square campus.
Massar Egbari (Egypt)
Massar Egbari is an Egyptian rock band that was formed in 2005 in Alexandria and consists of five musicians. Their music fuses alternative Egyptian sounds with rock, jazz, blues, and Oriental influences.
The band has been recognized by notable organizations, including UNESCO in 2011, and was named Best Band in the Middle East at the Middle East Music Awards (MEMA) in 2014, 2017, and 2018.
In 2023, they won the Creative Industry Summit Award for Best Song in a Ramadan series for “El Harsha El Sab’a,” followed by the NRJ Drama Award for Best Song for the series Massar Egbari in 2024. They are set to perform at Ewart Hall on AUC’s Tahrir Square campus.
OTOOTO (Denmark)
On the same night as Noha Fekry and Steven Simon’s performance, you can catch OTOOTO, who are performing for the first time ever at the CJF. Featuring some of Denmark’s leading young musicians, Copenhagen’s groundbreaking neo-jazz quintet OTOOTO offers a fresh fusion of jazz tradition and modern indie-pop.
They are set to perform at Ewart Hall on AUC’s Tahrir Square campus.
Brekky Boy (Australia)
The Australian trio Brekky Boy skillfully fuses jazz with electronic music, crafting a sound reminiscent of a classic Studio Ghibli animated film.
Their international acclaim skyrocketed after winning the Montreux Jazz Festival award, which led to impressive performances at major events like SXSW (USA), the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the London Jazz Festival, and Jazzahead (Germany), among others. They are set to perform at the Garden stage on AUC’s Tahrir Square campus.
Other Activities
Music Therapy: Beyond Entertainment (Panel)
Music Therapy is a panel discussion featuring Dr. Sara Fawcett from the UK and Eman Al Alili from the UAE, moderated by Christine Gordon, also from the UK. This event will take place in the Oriental Hall at AUC Tahrir Square.
This session will be part of the CJF’s Jazz Talks, curated by Musidonia in collaboration with Diwan.
The Laura Kipp Quartet (Workshop)
In partnership with the Goethe-Institut Cairo, the CJF welcomes German vocalist Laura Kipp back for her second visit to Egypt. Her artistic residency, which will extend through the end of the year, includes a series of concerts and educational workshops for musicians and singers.
To kick off her residency, Laura will conduct a music workshop featuring three internationally acclaimed Egyptian musicians: Ali Eissa on oud, Mohamed Sawah on trumpet, and percussionist Ayman Mabrouk.
They are set to perform at Ewart Hall on AUC’s Tahrir Square campus, and the workshop will be held at the Goethe Institut in Dokki.
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience one of the premier jazz festivals in the region, where music and cultural enthusiasts can immerse themselves in a vibrant atmosphere filled with creativity, talent, and community spirit.
Tickets are available online through Tickets Marche. You can purchase day tickets, weekend tickets, and full-festival passes. Also, have a look at the festival’s full program.
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