Mike's Oud Forums

cairo this january: where/what?

urus - 1-4-2012 at 06:47 PM

Salam!
I'm visiting Cairo this January, 20-29.

Could you recommend any good places to visit for the oud music to hear, or, maybe, even practice/jam a bit?
Alas, I don't know a thing about the musical life in the city as well as the current situation on the streets.:(

ahmed_eissa - 1-4-2012 at 08:19 PM

I will soon be going to Egypt as well! Through some research, I have found out that Muhammad Ali Street in Cairo is the main musical quarter of the city. Apparently, there are a lot of street musicians there, as well as luthiers/oud makers/instrument stores.

I would also love to hear what anyone else has to offer so I can make sure to hit the best spots.

urus - 1-4-2012 at 10:36 PM

Well, once I visited Muhammad Ali's, it was a few years ago, and I won't say it impressed me.
Cheap ouds and crappy darbukas was all I saw.
But maybe I just don't know the right spots or the right people.
Any good cafes / venues?

spartan - 1-4-2012 at 10:59 PM

I'm not a Cairo specialist, I ve been there few years ago...

To hear some good music
The Cairo Opera is a good option

http://www.cairoopera.org/ecalendar/index.aspx

Also you can try the so called Naghib Mahfuz cafe in the Al Khalil bazaar near Al Azar.
This is a nice cafe that they play live music.
In the same district there is also a very old cafe called El Hifnawi (or something like that) , nice ambience also.

On the other side of Cairo, at El Zamalek district and near the Nile river there are also some places
There is a small Cultural Centre (but i dont remember the arabic name, it's translated like The Cycle i think)
They play good arabic music also.

I think it's better to avoid catchy tourist trap places like belly dancing venues on the river banks etc.

For buing a good oud I think a great option is Maurice Shehata.
You can contact him by phone as you arrive or take a taxi to the adress mentioned.
Personnaly I have one of his ouds, excellent sound and quality of material.

http://www.mauriceouds.com/

Another option is Fathi Amin
but it's very hard to go to his workshop, but worth the visit.

http://www.fathy-ameen.com/about_en.html

I hope it will help you.

Have a nice journey.

urus - 1-5-2012 at 02:30 AM

Thanks a lot, Spartan!:wavey:

Marina - 1-5-2012 at 04:09 AM

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Africa/Egypt/Muhafazat_al_Qahi...

urus - 1-5-2012 at 07:03 PM

Does anyone know a thing about Arab Oud House in Cairo?

spartan - 1-13-2012 at 04:39 AM

Quote: Originally posted by urus  
Does anyone know a thing about Arab Oud House in Cairo?


http://www.araboudhouse.com/

sorry for the late answer, the site is on arabic only.
Beit al oud (means house of Oud) is Nasseer Shamma oud school

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/758/profile.htm

All teachers and students play the Nasseer Shamma style .
Some of the forum members here have been there, and took lessons, try the search engine for some more info.

urus - 1-13-2012 at 04:47 AM

Thanks, 'cause I'm deeply interested in taking some classes in Egyptian style and studying oud.
I've already found some old posts, but they're a bit old, I think...
ps. I can't open the beit al oud site :mad: Maybe, it's the provider.

urus - 1-13-2012 at 06:00 AM

the site worked again.
yep, it's in Arabic, but that's what Google Site Translate was made for.

fernandraynaud - 1-14-2012 at 05:03 AM

Quote: Originally posted by urus  
Thanks, 'cause I'm deeply interested in taking some classes in Egyptian style and studying oud.
I've already found some old posts, but they're a bit old, I think...
ps. I can't open the beit al oud site :mad: Maybe, it's the provider.


http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=10494&g...

Try contacting Hassan Yousri in Cairo. His English and oud playing are good and he's young and very pleasant.

urus - 1-14-2012 at 12:08 PM

Great, thank you Fernandraynaud!