ARAB-JAZZ-CLASSICAL
LAÏLA AMEZIAN (Morocco / Belgium)
Laïla Amezian – vocals
Anja Naucler – celllo
Stephan Pougin – drums-percussions
A singer whose roots are in Morocco, but whose feet are planted in Brussels:
Laïla Amezian.
‘Arab-jazz-classical’ is how Laïla likes to describe her music. In this programme she sings texts by the Lebanese-American poet Khalil Gibran. She set these to music herself and the multi-talented Michaël Grébil wrote the arrangements. Also featured are poems by the 12th century writer-philosopher Ibn Arabi and the 14th century poet Al-Mutanabi. In contrast there are also jazz classics such as Strange Fruit …
Her ambition is to create a link between East and West, the old and the new, mysticism and music. TriOde is the result of this ambition, a project which is an ode to ‘the voice’. It is also the title of an exceptional CD (her second album) with Arab, jazz and classical music combined, performed by a trio with the same name: three very talented and broad-minded musicians.
Subtly accompanied by cellist Anja Naucler and percussionist Stephan Pougin, Laïla creates an intimate atmosphere, with her warm and rich voice coming to the fore in heartfelt interpretations. The instrumental playing is sensitive and compelling and adds significantly to the intensity of this exceptional project.
Laïla Amezian hails from a musical family in the North of Morocco. She was born in Antwerp (Belgium) and now lives in Brussels. In the course of her fifteen-year career she has discovered many different vocal worlds: French chansons, jazz, funk, electro-ethno-dance, post-rock, polyphony and Arab-Andalusian music. Her musical collaborations have been equally varied: DJ Grazzhoppa, Oblomow,Qayna, Studio Pagol (electro-ethno-dance), Jaune Toujours and Arabanda.
The Swedish cellist Anja Naucler studied classical music in Sweden and in Brussels, and also chamber music in Ghent. She is extremely versatile and plays with chamber music ensembles and large orchestras as well as with jazz bands and rock groups. She also plays with world music stars Ghalia Benali and Manou Gallo.
Percussionist Stephan Pougin is equally multifaceted. He too studied in Brussels and then continued his learning process with great names such as Georges-Elie Octors and Billy Hart. His musical partners include Aurélia, Tuur Florizoone, Mikis Theodorakis, Panta Rhei, Ghalia Benali and countless others.
