The Blues Returns to Beirut - 21 July

My first show in Beirut in 3 years will be on July 21 at Salon Beyrouth!

Come on down to hear the real low down and rotten blues, as you ain't never done!

You can check out the event page [here]!

Slave Man Blues

I might not be in Beirut to support the Tol3et Re7etkom cause, however I have donated to the Indiegogo campaign and signed the petition, which you can too! I'm sending you my blues support, stay safe everyone!

You Seein' Trash 'Cause You Gots the 'Garbage Man Blues'

photo by Jawad Chaaban

In light of the recent debacle in Lebanon, about trash not being picked up and is currently filling up the streets, I'd like to dedicate this blues by Muddy Waters to the Lebanese people and the government.

Although it technically is about a cheating woman leaving her husband for the garbage man, ideally we can use it as a metaphor for being screwed by politicians instead.

My baby, she run off
With the garbage man
Yeah my baby, she run off
With the garbage man
Well, I need you so bad little girl
So you can empty my garbage can

I don't know where she been
And I don't know why she goin'
Yeah, I don't know where she been
And I don't know why she goin'
Please come back to me
My garbage can is overflowin'

Yeah my baby, she run away
With my hard earned cash
Well my woman, she run away
With my hard earned cash
Well I don't need your money
I don't need your money girl
I need you so you can empty my trash

Bonus: Buddy Guy Cover

Post-Gig Blues Report

10 years. 

It was 10 years ago that I performed in Beirut. Why did I take so long to go back and play? Lots of factors really. After all, I was always in a band situation, never a solo performer until only a few years ago. 

The opportunity seemed ripe, considering the amount of work and effort I was putting into this blues thing. How far can someone go with the blues? A genre that continues to dwindle in the overall scheme of things?

I got the approval of Fete de la Musique a month back. It was the comeback I was looking for after a decade of absence from the Lebanese music scene.

The next step would be to assemble a band. Like I normally do things, I have my friends and network of musicians. I was fortunate enough, considering how busy everyone would be on that night (92 bands were playing), I reunited with Toufic who was the drummer with me in the Mojolaters Blues Band before we returned to Lebanon 4 years back.  

Next I had the versatile and laid back Joe on guitars, who was essential in filling both the role of lead and rhythm. 

Given the time constraints and busy schedules, I was not able to get other people on board. A power trio it would have to be.

Under tension and anxiety, and also having an extremely powerful band (Funky Blues Brothers), incidentally fronted by the French Ambassador no less, led me to almost crumble. I mean, these guys have about 30 years of playing experience, not to mention some of the best musicians in Lebanon, and having more members on stage to fill up the sound.

To counter this, I made a rapport with the audience, telling them my story of being here, cracking some jokes here and there.

Our setlist was:

1) Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock N Roll - Muddy Waters

2) My Babe - Little Walter

3) How Blue Can You Get - BB King

4) La Grange - ZZ Top

5) Got My Mojo Workin' - Muddy Waters

My tension eased once the first opening notes were played, and when everything gelled together. By the 3rd song we were in full force. Thankfully we pulled off a great performance and the crowd was very supportive and engaging, especially when they were singing along in "Got My Mojo Workin'.

Thanks to Fete de la Musique and to Beirut for having me again after all these years, to my friends and family who came to the show in support. I'm back in Kuwait now with the blues as I write this, but I hope to be back again soon. 

Weekend Roundup + A Reminder

It's been a busy weekend, so I thought I'd group everything into one post:

First, we start off with some bad news.

1- Ornette Coleman, free jazz legend, dies at the age of 85. 

Ornette Coleman was known to be a breaker of conventions; a man who played a plastic Yamaha alto sax, which is alone a shocker at the time, and performing odd measures, scales, and with more and more freedom within jazz.

His album, The Shape of Jazz to Come, in 1959 was his breakthrough, and went on his never ending search of new sounds until the day he died.

Jazz truly was never the same without him. Here's an old post I wrote about him a while back.

2- My Full Interview with Urban Q8 is Out


I had a great time doing this video with Tarek of Urban Q8. I hope you guy like this video!

3- Only a Week Left for Fete de la Musique!


Remember, next week on 21 June, I will be performing with my blues band in Beirut, at Samir Kassir Square. 

Checkout the full lineup that day, and don't forget to say hi!

I'm Confirmed for Beirut Fête da la Musique!

I received the official word last night; I'l be performing a blues set at Beirut's Fête de la Musique on the 21st of June! The event will take place in various locations around Beirut; my set will be at Samir Kassir Square in Downtown, at 11:20pm.

This will be my first official gig in Beirut as a solo musician, and will also be my first official gig in Lebanon since 2005 (see more about my Beirut music journey here). I have discussed with my old band mates and they will be performing with me on stage, reunited after all this time.

More details will be coming later on; hope to see you there!

Imagination Express: Tarek Yamani Trio, Local Musicians Live in Kuwait

This Thursday, Tarek Yamani, Lebanese jazz extraordinaire, will perform with his trio (Elie Afif / bass and Rony Afif / drums) at the Al-Americani Cultural Center. This event is being managed by Nuqat. 

Supporting him are some of the best local musicians (humble innit):

1) Hussa Al-Humaidhi

2) Amin Fari

3) Basil Al-Hadi

4) Galaxy Juice Band

5) and me, Ali Sleeq

It's a free event, so don't say you have something better to do on a Thursday night!

Beirut Speaks Jazz 3rd Edition

The 3rd iteration of the famed 'Beirut Speaks Jazz' festival is coming soon to you!

On May 5, at Music Hall, prepare for a huge night of amazing musicians from across the local spectrum! Visit the official event page [here].

This year the artists will be:

Aziza
Chady Nashef
Edd Abbas (from Fareeq l Atrash)
Issa Ghandour
Poly
Ranine Chaar
Rayess Bek (from Aksser)
Tania Saleh
Wassim Bou Malham (from Who Killed Bruce Lee)
Ziad Ahmadieh

Tarek Yamani: Piano 
Raffi Mandalian: Guitar 
Ruedi Felder: Bass 
Khaled Omran: Bass
Paolo Orlandi: Drums 
Dani Shukri: Drums 


Tickets available at Virgin Ticketing Box Office
http://ticketingboxoffice.com/beirut-speaks-jazz-tickets/event/8063
01 999 666

Zone 1 - Free Seated: 60 000 LBP
Zone 2 - Free Seated: 45 000 LBP

Beirut International Jazz Day 2015

(click to enlarge)

In celebration of this years International Jazz Day, Beirut Souks will host the Beirut chapter on April 30. I wish I could be there to support my friends Ruby Road, and seeing the great Monday and Real Deal Blues Bands. It will be a free event in the heart of Downtown Beirut. 

I urge everyone to go and support the local music scene!

As described by the official Facebook page: 

For the third consecutive year, Beirut joins other cities around the globe in celebrating International Jazz Day under the patronage of the UNESCO. This year, the free event takes places in Youssef El Rami street (Behind the Municipality of Beirut) and showcases the best in local jazz talent.

Lineup:

RUBY ROAD : 7:00pm

RAFFI MANDALIAN JAZZ QUINTET : 8:00pm

MONDAY BLUES BAND : 9:00pm

REAL DEAL BLUES BAND : 10:00pm

XANGO : 11:00pm

IKLIL : 12:00am

Response to Beirut.com's Article on Blues in Beirut

Yesterday, Mario Jamal wrote an article on Beirut.com called 'The Thrill Is Gone: Thoughts on a Blues Malaise in Beirut'. 

As a self-professed bluesman, who has performed in Beirut, Kuwait, and Dubai, I have to add my 2 cents in.

Mario, 

You seem to particularly know some blues music, but neither BB King, Bobby 'Blue' Bland nor Albert King are considered "Chicago Blues", and early delta blues players are more considered to be Robert Johnson, Son House, Blind Lemon Jefferson etc. RL Burnside was only a youngster when these bluesmen were at their prime. 

The White Stripes (through Jack White) and the Black Keys are not part of a blues-rock revival (if such a revival really exists). We know Jack White has shown interest in the early blues, even performing 'Death Letter Blues' by Son House live. But his overall music, including the Black Keys, have little to no commonality with early delta blues.

With that out of the way, let's move on to the Beirut scene:

During the 5 years I spent in Lebanon during my AUB years between 2000-2005, I performed in my own blues band, regularly I may add, back when Monot St. was active, and we played several music festivals in Hamra and Hadath, etc. Check more out [here] and [here].

At the time, only The Wanton Bishops were not in the blues scene. The rest you already mentioned. By the time I left, Shady Nashef & Band were unfortunately becoming a covers only band (not just blues), even though all on his team are amazing musicians. 

When I recently heard that the Real Deal Blues Band still plays till today, and that Quadrangle still stands, I think you then realize what the problem is.

The blues is a much highly regarded genre in Lebanon. Not only are the Lebanese more generally knowledgeable about blues and jazz compared to other places in the region, but they are also active band supporters and live music enthusiasts.

We fantasize about the history and imagery of what blues music is; and indeed in that sense the blues is evident in Beirut and Lebanon; isn't there poverty, destitution, and even more worse things going on?

The answer is simple; it's not popular ENOUGH to generate enough money for musicians to make a living, nor for the establishment to generate enough revenue to pay the band or to cover their costs.

I give you an example from my experience:

From 2003-2005 my band Evergreen Blues Band, was performing weekly at Roadhouse Blues pub in Monot. We were getting $100 a week FOR THE WHOLE BAND. 

How do you expect a 4 piece group to survive this? Granted we were college kids and we didn't care. But for someone older, with a family and responsibilities, this is ridiculous. 

So what did musicians have to do? They adapt. 

Either they perform other kinds of music, be a party / wedding / TV band, or end up taking regular jobs. I perform a lot of blues music today. but it's not enough to sustain me and my family (I have a daughter now).

That alone is enough cause for the blues; however just as Jazz is now the least popular genre in the US, where it was created, we have to always add the economic factor into it.

As much as I talk and discuss and preach about the blues, for 15 years now, I always have to remove my romantic fantasies and must embrace reality. 

#Throwback: Classic Blues Gig in Beirut (2004)

On Dec. 21, 2004 in Beirut, we performed a gig that (in my eyes at least) was considered a classic blues performance. 

Our blues band, Evergreen, performed to over 200 people at the now closed blues pub Roadhouse Blues in Monot Street. 

This was the last big performance I had with the band before I left Lebanon to Kuwait.

I have this poster hanging on my wall as a reminder of the good times; now ain't that the blues!

See more about my musical adventures in Lebanon [here].

Beirut Speaks Jazz @ Metro Al-Madina

In celebration of International Jazz Day, the hard working folks at Metro Al-Madina have announced a free concert called 'BEIRUT SPEAKS JAZZ'.

I will miss this concert by one day (I'll be in Beirut on the 1st of May), so it would have been great to see all these superb artists again along with my friends who run the Metro.

Below is from their event page:

"Come experience the most versatile jazz event in Lebanon where an all-star lineup of rock, pop, rap, blues and tarab artists get together in one night and on one stage to perform arrangements of songs over the foundations of Jazz harmonies and rhythms.

Beirut Speaks Jazz 2014 artists:

Vocals:
Oumeima El Khalil
Tania Saleh
Mazen El Sayed (aka El Rass)
Donna Khalife
Erin Mikaelian
Chady Nashef

Musicians:
Makram Abol Hosn / bass
Fouad Afra / drums (my relative!)
Bashar Farran / bass
George Kassis / piano
Jean Madani / bass
Chady Nashef / guitar
Avo Tutunjian / saxophone
Tarek Yamani / piano
Joseph Zayoun / guitar

Tarek Yamani: Artistic Director / producer
Metro al Madina: Co-producer

and more to be announced soon…

FREE ENTRANCE
Doors open at 9:00 pm
Concert starts at 9:30 pm"

http://facebook.com/beirutspeaksjazz

My 3rd Article for Revolver Is Up!

The lovely folks at Revolver have been very generous to publish my blues rambling; the third time in fact!

This time around the article is called "Booze and the Blues: 10 Blues Songs About Alcohol", and you can read it [here]. 

Cheers (hah) to Revolver and Bernard for their interest and support!

Miles Davis Responds to Jackie Chamoun's Critics

Classic Burger Knew I Was Coming

Editorial: The Lebanese Blues

I apologize in advance for the misleading title; I'm not going to talk about the blues scene in Lebanon (although I intend to make a field report about that in the coming months).

Rather, the recent events in the last few weeks in Lebanon have not been giving any positive signs for the future. And hence, I want to take some to talk about politics, even though there are more established political bloggers out there. But that doesn't mean I can't have my two cents now does it?

As a Lebanese expat, living most of my life outside of Lebanon, I fell in love with the country again during my years in AUB (prior to the assassination of Rafiq Hariri). Perhaps it was my independence, the university life, the music adventures, or anything to be out of Kuwait really. I really thought it was the ideal place to be; but as all good stories come to an end, and I left Lebanon in 2005, a week prior to Hariri's assassination.

Since then it's "always been hard luck and trouble" (- Albert King), with things spiraling out of control. For almost 10 long years, no longer was Lebanon our "pride and joy" (- BB King).

Since we have "other mules kicking in our stall" (- Howlin' Wolf), none of the outside powers will "leave our little girl alone" (- Stevie Ray Vaughan). In the meantime, we have been so busy worrying about our day to day life that we almost have "no food on the table, and no shoes on our feet" (- John Lee Hooker).

We love to hear the sounds of our family and friends, that sound of a "long distance call" (- Muddy Waters). We hear of their success stories and the hopeful youth's aspiration to be in a better place that will bring them dignity, instead of living with the "worried life blues" (- Sleepy John Estes).

We stumble on "the same old thing" (- Willie Dixon); we bring back the same people into power that never seem to have the best intentions for us. These same people who never address our needs, just to fill their pockets and to control our lives.

As if humans are already considered a cheap commodity, ignorance, and hate, have brought us to a point where even our libraries are being burned. We "stand at a crossroads" (- Robert Johnson), it's either we get our shit together, or our dreams of prosperity will evaporate, and while "I'm not superstitious" (- Willie Dixon), I can't see things getting any better, if we don't think of the future, like "the things we used to do" (- Guitar Slim).

While everyone will maybe ignore this and go "shake their moneymaker" (- Elmore James), I'll still be here "preaching the blues" (- Son House).

Hope everyone in Lebanon is safe, and here's to a good 2014.

The Blues Collection by Tarek Chemaly

Continuing the collaboration with Tarek Chemaly of Beirut/NTSC, I present to you another four graphic arts, inspired by (in order) Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, BB King, and John Lee Hooker. 

 The play on words with Lebanese humor really adds to these great works of art. 

Here we go!!

Exclusive Art: 'Fishing in Muddy Waters' by Tarek Chemaly

Click for Hi-Res

This blues graphic art, complete with a vintage Lebanese twist,  was designed for Speakin' The Blues by renowned artist Tarek Chemaly. A talented creative artist, writer, and university lecturer, Tarek also runs the blog Beirut/NTSC (Never Twice Same City).

Old Lebanese ads from the 60's and 70's had a certain feel and design to them. Tarek and I were talking about infusing this retro/vintage style with a blues theme. I recommended Muddy Waters, the king of Chicago Blues. From his side, this is what Tarek had to say about his concept:

"Fishing in muddy waters or "الاصطياد في مياه عكرة" is an Arabic expression which means that whatever you cannot fish in regular water due to the low speed of the muddy water, you can end up fishing while it is in it's worst conditions. So the expression eventually means "abusing someone's situation" or "taking advantage of someone's bad situation".

Thanks to Tarek for creating this great piece of art, and look out for more upcoming collaborations with other Lebanese artists soon!

The Beirut Report: The Blues Returns

Happy New Years everyone!

I have returned from my trip to Beirut, which was, like me, short but sweet. I had a great time seeing family and friends. Beirut has changed so much in the last few years, and despite politics, it still is a breathtaking city.

I am from Beirut, so obviously the connection is deeper, but when you live there you will understand why people are just infatuated with the culture and lifestyle of this great city.

And whats more? I got to perform for the first time in 7 years on a Lebanese stage, singing the same ol' blues. The owner of 'Name this Bar' in Gemmayze was kind enough to have me perform with their house band, all of whom are kickass performers.

The Lebanon 'high' is still in effect, so excuse me if I feel overly happy these few days. I'll be back with more blues for 2013, so stick around, there's a lot of news!

Days of Old: My Beirut Music Story

I left Beirut in 2005 (one week prior to the assassination of PM Rafic Hariri) back to Kuwait, for economical reasons after completing my AUB studies.

During the years of 2002-2005, I was in various bands, the longest being in Evergreen.

I also recorded along with Evergreen band mate Fouad, a soundtrack for Al-Jazeera.

Thought I would share some photos of those days:

HAMRA FESTIVAL 2004

ROADHOUSE BLUES PUB - MONOT 2004

ROADHOUSE BLUES PUB - MONOT 2004

BEIRUT MARATHON - DOWNTOWN 2004

FIRST GIG w/ EVERGREEN - BEIRUT PARK 2003