Dhafer Youssef
Born in Teboulba, Tunesia in 1967, composer, singer and oud player Dhafer Youssef has been living and working in Vienna, Austria since 1990. During this time he had the opportunity to perform his music on stages in Austria, France, Germany, Switzerland and other European countries as well as his native Tunesia (where he started singing in the Islamic tradition at age 5). Dhafer has been working with Renaud Garcia-Fons, Markus Stockhausen, Carlo Rizzo, Nguyên Lê, Jatinder, Thakur, Sainkho Namchylak, Paolo Fresu, Arto Tuncboyacian, Linda Sharrock, Wolfgang Puschnig, Christian Muthspiel, Jamey Haddad, Iva Bittova, Tom Cora and other great improvisers influenced by world music concepts. He also formed his own ensembles with whom he recorded two previous CD's in 1993 and 1996.

Dhafer's music is rooted in the Sufi tradition and other mystical music but has always been wide open to ideas from any other musical culture as well as the jazz scene. With his poetic approach on the oud (the Arabic lute), his complex Arab-colored compositions and especially his deeply affecting singing, Dhafer Youssef is one of the most impressive voices to emerge in this musical field for several years. Testifying a wide range of sound colors, stylistic facets and musical ingredients, his 1999 ENJA release "Malak" is a thrilling statement made of Arabic lyricism, rhythmic power, visionary strength, multi-cultural influences and jazz-oriented improvisation. Dhafer Youssef opens the way to a new definition of East-Western crossover.

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