MAZAJ

Mazaj
Mazaj
Mazaj
Mazaj
Mazaj
Mazaj
Mazaj
Mazaj
Mazaj
Mazaj
Mazaj
Mazaj

SOME FLYERS FROM PREVIOUS EVENTS
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  • Biography

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    MAZAJ

    MAZAJ are predominately a trio of musicians who have a passionate interest in music from across the Middle East. Their repertoire is broad and varied ranging from classical instrumental compositions through to regional folk traditions and the ever popular Arabic and Turkish dance melodies of the 1940's - 1960's. They have considerable knowledge about the various genres and have many years of experience playing their respective instruments. They have been playing together since 2007 and have played at many notable venues and events. Mazaj can also provide dancers for any event if required, please enquire if you would like a dance element.

    BOOKING

    MAZAJ can be booked in the following formats:

    MAZAJ TRIO - ( Russell, Chas and Maren ) This is the main core band. You can see videos below and hear tracks in the SET LIST section. Please note the Trio can play the full set list.

    MAZAJ DUO - ( Chas and Maren ) You can see videos below and hear tracks in the SET LIST section. Please note the Duo play only some of the full set list.

    MAZAJ QUARTET - ( Russell, Chas , Maren and Jo ) For an expanded sound Jo Levine on Accordion can join the trio - You can hear tracks in the SET LIST section. Please note the Quartet play only some of the full set list.

    To enquire about rates please CONTACT HERE

  • Band Members

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    RUSSELL HARRIS

    OUD, SAZ, REBAB, MIDDLE EASTERN PERCUSSION

    Russell has been involved in the study and performance of Middle Eastern music since the mid 1980's - After an initial period of study in Konya, Turkey specialising in Anatolian folk traditions with Ustat Ahmet Ozdemir, a renowned player of Oud and Saz ( long necked lute ) he broadened the scope of his study to include Arabic instrumental styles, specialising in Oud and Percussion. Russell has performed extensively throughout the UK with groups Bazigah, Taaliqa and Panacea and with a range of international artists including Adel Salameh and Naziha Azzouz. 

    MAREN LUEG

    TRADITIONAL MIDDLE EASTERN WIND INSTRUMENTS - NEY, TURKISH CLARINET, ZURNA AND SAXOPHONE, SILVER AND WOODEN FLUTES.

    Maren was born and raised in Germany and is now resident in the UK. Inspired by the sounds she heard from the Turkish and East European communities, she began studying these styles as well as Jazz, Blues and Latin on the saxophone and flute. She performs regularly with British and Middle Eastern musicians around the UK and has studied such traditional Middle Eastern wind instruments as the Nay (bamboo flute) and Zurna (double reed pipe) in Turkey and Egypt. She has a Masters on the Nay at the London School of African and Oriental Studies.

    CHAS WHITAKER

    DARABUKA / DOUF / RIQ / ZILLS.

    Chas has been playing Middle Eastern and North African percussion for over 25 years. Predominately self-taught he has travelled extensively across Egypt, Turkey and Morocco where he also studied.

  • Set List

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    Please find below the list of songs we play as the Mazaj Trio, they are divided into Arabic and Turkish sections. Please also check out our YouTube playlists ( TRIO & DUO ) to see many of these songs performed live.

    MAZAJ ARABIC SONG SET LIST

    00:00
    00:00
    1. Al Ataba Ghazaz
    2. Alf Layla Wa Layla
    3. Ana Fi Intizarak
    4. Aziza
    5. Baladi Mazaj
    6. Bedouin Fire
    7. Bin Elbarach Li'elyum
    8. Drum Solo ( Saaidi Groove )
    9. Dulab Hijaz & Samra
    10. El Nom
    11. Fog el Nakhal
    12. Il Bulbul
    13. Kawal & Rabab
    14. Nasam Aleyn Il Hawa
    15. Pasta Baghdadya
    16. Raqset Gamal
    17. Sharq Jalaman Qadsawarak
    18. Ya Laila Hilwa
    19. Yain Mawalatin / Bedouin Tune / Noura Noura
    20. Zurna & Drum

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    Some other unrecorded songs we play live include: LAMMA BADA YATATHANNA, SAMA'AI NAWA ATHAR
    SAMA'AI BAYATI AL ARIAN, SAMA'AI BAYATI THAQIL, YA SHADI AL-ALHAN.

    MAZAJ TURKISH SONG SET LIST

    00:00
    00:00
    1. Chiftitelli
    2. Ney Solo
    3. Rampi Rampi aka Çadirimin Üstüne
    4. Sebasdia Bar

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    Some other unrecorded songs we play live include: ÇEÇEN KIZI , GUNES TOPLA BENIM ICI , HICAZ MANDRA, HICAZ ILLAHI, HÜSEYNI ILAHI, KADIFEDEN KESESI, NIHAVENT OYEN HAVASI, SISELER, TELGRAFIN TELLERINE, USKUDARA GIDERIKEN.

  • Past Events

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    MAZAJ have played at many notable events, here are some selected highlights:

    MAZAJ TRIO:

    FESTIVALS

    GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL - Avalon Cafe Stage, Tadpole Stage, Mandala Stage, Small World Stage, Ancient Futures Stage, West Holts Backstage Stage. Clapped Out Stage. - 2007, 2010.
    WOMAD - Supporting Chas and Carmen's Introduction To Arabic Drumming and Dance Workshops - 2009 - 2012.
    BIG GREEN GATHERING - Small World Stage - 2007.
    BATH FRINGE FESTIVAL -2009, 2010 and 2012.
    EXETER RESPECT FESTIVAL - Main Stage, Big Top - 2010.
    MIDDLE EASTERN MUSIC, DRUM & DANCE FESTIVAL - 2009 - 2012.
    BATH FOLK FESTIVAL - 2012.
    AEON FESTIVAL - 2010.
    FROME FESTIVAL - Cafe La Strada -2009.
    LEAMINGTON PEACE FESTIVAL - 2007, 2011.
    KINGSTON GREEN FAYRE - 2008.
    MIDDLE EASTERN FESTIVAL - Findhorn - 2007.
    TRIBE OF DORIS - Intercultural Summer School -2010.
    DRUM CAMP - 2009, 2017
    WOMAD MALMESBURY SCHOOLS PROJECT - Sherston Village Hall & Malmesbury Abbey - 2013
    WOMAD MALMESBURY SCHOOLS PROJECT - Main Stage Opening Concert - 2013
    LIVERPOOL ARABIC ARTS FESTIVAL - Sefton Park Palm House, Liverpool - 2015

    UNIVERSITIES

    EXETER UNIVERSITY - Arabic Society Cultural Event - 2009.
    OXFORD UNIVERSITY UNION BALL - 2008.
    OXFORD BROOKES STUDENT UNION ARABIAN NIGHT - 2008.
    OXFORD UNIVERSITY CASABLANCA BALL - 2010.
    SCHOOL OF ORIENTAL & AFRICAN STUDIES - London - 2014
    OXFORD UNIVERSITY - St Cross College - 2014

    OTHERS


    BRADFORD AND BINGLEY AWARDS CEREMONY - Elstree Film Studios - 2008.
    BRADFORD AND BINGLEY AWARDS CEREMONY - Bradford - 2008 .
    ELECTROSTATIC Dreams From The East - Colston Hall, Bristol - 2011.
    PRIVATE EVENT - Royal Institute Of Charted Surveyors - 2011.
    CLUB CAIRO - Bath - 2010 - 2013
    BIKE SHED - Exeter - 2012 & 2013.
    ST AIDENS - Bristol - 2012
    HEATHROW OXFAM CHARITY BALL - Hilton Hotel, Heathrow - London - 2015
    HOLBORN MUSEUM - Bath - 2018

    INTERNATIONAL

    NORWAY - BERGENFEST - Festivalbaren, Hotel Norge Nedre Ole Bulls plass 4,, Bergen, Hordaland - 2010.

    "One of the most exciting and exotic parts of Bergenfest ever: Mazaj, who were guests during Friday PILS! "
    Official Festival Review.
    .Photo: Jørn Gjersøe / NRK

    MAZAJ DUO:

    FESTIVALS


    GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL - MAZAJ DUO and Carmen performed live for a live broadcast on BBC 2 - 2008. With Phil Jupitus and Lauren Leverne. You can watch it HERE.
    GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL - Tadpole Stage -2008.
    DRUM CAMP - 2006 - 2012. TRIBE OF DORIS - Intercultural Summer School - 2006 - 2011.
    THE BIG CHILL - 2009.
    BATH FRINGE FESTIVAL With El Uzza Dance Co. - 2007
    MAJMA - Middle Eastern Dance Festival - Glastonbury - 2007.
    SCIROCCO DANCE FESTIVAL - With Karine Butchard - 2009.
    BEST OF THE WEST DANCE SPECTACULAR. Bristol - 2007.
    AVALONCAN - Glastonbury - 100 Monkeys - 2007.
    HOPFEST - 2012.
    ROYAL OAK FESTIVAL - Bath - 2008.
    DIVER-CITY FESTIVAL - Bath Spa University - 2013
    SUNRISE FESTIVAL - Nr Bath - 2013

    OTHERS


    PLANET EGYPT - London - 2009.
    ORIENTAL DESTINY THEATRE PRODUCTION - Kingswood Theatre - Bath - 2008.
    CHESTER ROMAN RE-ENACTMENT FESTIVAL - 2009 - 2012.
    ORIENTAL RUGS OF BATH - Residency - 2012 - 2014.
    NEWTON MILL CAMPSITE RESIDENCY - April to Oct. 2011.
    SECRET WORLD ARABIAN BALL - 2010.
    OXFORD REGENTS COLLAGE - 2009.
    CAMDEN LOCK MARKET - Performance Walkabout - 2007. "PHARAOH KING OF EGYPT EXHIBITION" - Bristol Museum - 2013
    SOMMERVILLE CLUB - Bristol - 2013
    SILK MILL - Frome - 2014 ( with Hagai Bilitzky )
    EGYPT 2 AFRICA - Portsmouth - 2014
    SYRIAN REFUGEE'S CULTURAL EXCHANGE & NETWORKING EVENT - Cambridge City Council - 2017
    CHARITY FUNDRAISER FOR YEMEN - Sheffield - 2017


    INTERNATIONAL


    IBIZA. Mazaj Duo and Carmen with Yaron Marko and Nur Banu.. - Namaste Club, Las Dalios Hippy Market, San Carlos, Sant Eulalia,- Kumaharas Restaurant, On The Beach Reastaurant, Cala San Vicente. 2011, 2012.
    TURKEY - Butterfly Valley, Uzunyurt. 2009.
    TURKEY - Fethyie World Music Festival - 2013 & 2019

    GERMANY - Liquid Sound Festival - Bad Orb & Sulza - 2012 & 2014
    GERMANY - Hagen -Dreifaltigkeits Kirche, Cafe Dialog, - 2010 - 2013.
    GERMANY - Hagen - Kulturzentrum Pelmke - 2014.
    GERMANY - Iserlohn - Dechenhohle - 2014.
    GERMANY - Hagen - AllerWeltHaus - 2014.
    GERMANY - Hitdorf - Open Sky Seminar House - Germany - 2015
    GERMANY - Hagen - Muschelsalat Festival - Germany - 2015

MAZAJ VIDEOS

To see videos for either the Duo or Trio please click on the YouTube playlists below. Please click on the "Playlist" icon to navigate and don't forget to set the video quality to the best possible as most of these videos are in HD.