Mike's Oud Forums

Summer of Fun - Part Two

Mike - 9-30-2006 at 09:35 AM

Last weekend Jameel came to visit. We had just as good a time as when Mavro came down last month. We didn't get a chance to visit John Bilezikjian unfortunately, but we were able to visit Wael place, Viken, and hang out with the fellas again. Jonathan, Lee, Peter (truepharaoh), Wael, Afif, Sam, and Rufi came over to my place this time for the jam session. Once again, the guys put on a great show. On Sunday we went to Sea World...WOO HOO!!! Here are some photos and a couple of videos. I'll have more videos up either today or within the next couple of days.

- Viken tries out Jameel's oud
- Wael and Jameel play Zikrayat

Wael triying out Jameelo's oud. Needless to say, he was impressed.



Hanging out with Jonathan and Lee before the big dawgs got there.



The big dawgs. Yep, I think Sam likes Jameelo's oud too.


So does Afif.



Sam and Wael getting the party going.





Rufi says I can make instruments too! Later I'll have a video of Afif playing the oud Rufi made.




Winding down while hanging out on the patio.





A visit to Sea World. Animals rule!







Jason - 9-30-2006 at 10:48 AM

Great videos Mike. I always enjoy Viken's playing, I wish he did more recordings

Monawar Al-Jabar - 9-30-2006 at 12:35 PM

Hi all if i knew all these beautiful Oud were going to be their then i would have hired the A Team to steal them it would be worth it look at all these Gems in the pictures top quality Oud’s .

I wish i was their by the way Jameelo's oud was top dollar i like it

oudplayer - 9-30-2006 at 04:29 PM

hey guys
well thank for making us jelous over here on the east coast wish i was there
mike great clips i liek the duo
thx sammy

Hosam - 9-30-2006 at 07:57 PM

Thank you Mike for sharing all of this with us. The clips for Afif and Viken blew me away. Please post more especially for Afif playing Jameel’s oud. I gather from the photos you had enough ouds to open oud show. This gathering shows the real spirit for these forums. Good for all of you.

Jameel - 10-1-2006 at 05:54 PM

I can't thank Mike enough for a fantastic weekend. It was a blast! Meeting all the fellas from So. Cal. was just great. Wael, Jonathan, Viken, Sam, Peter, Lee, Alphonse (Peter's father), Rufi, Afif, and everyone else. These guys were kind enough to play my oud for me (it sounded great in these guys' hands!). My oud got played so much that it really opened up. It sounds even better now. I really got motivated to make more ouds from this trip, so hopefully I might have some to offer in the near future. Gotta share the love, after all ;) Sea World was great too. Those sea lions cracked me up. Stay tuned to this thread for some more videos from Mike. There is one in particular from one young and upcoming oudist that will knock your socks off. Afif's playing on Rufi's "ancient egyptian oud" is also incredible!

Mike - 10-1-2006 at 09:51 PM

Here are some more videos everybody...

- Sam Massoudi - Mawwal
- Taqsim Peter and Afif
- Ya Mesaharny
- Peter plays Farido
- Zikrayat
- Taqsim on Rufi's oud
- Rufi's ancient Egyptian oud
- Taqsim by Afif
- Zourouni
- Andalusia
- Taqsim by Peter
- Taqsim by Jameel
- Taqsim Saba by Afif

SamirCanada - 10-2-2006 at 06:47 AM

AMAZING!!!
Good Stuff buddy.
Thanks for going through the trouble of sharing those really awsome of you.
allah y khalik

Mike - 10-2-2006 at 08:38 AM

my pleasure Samir...maybe next time there will be pictures of me and you smoking sheesha in my patio....along with some friends from Northern California! :-) maybe during your winter break...whatdya say?

Jonathan - 10-2-2006 at 10:43 AM

What a blast, Mike. Thanks for a heck of a time.
Let's not stop. We have to find a way to keep the ball rolling, and keep these "oud summits" (as Lee has dubbed them) going. Anywhere. My place is alway available, but wherever you guys want.

revaldo29 - 10-2-2006 at 01:16 PM

Wow, man peter is on Fire!! That Farid taqassim was incredible.

revaldo29 - 10-2-2006 at 01:30 PM

Haha man Atlanta sucks. As I always say, you fellas out on the west coast are awfully lucky.

SamirCanada - 10-2-2006 at 03:04 PM

Mike Iam going to work my way to keep you up on that offer. I really would love to get down to Cali, and do it up.
Inchallah I'll be able.

God bless all you Cali guys. Awsome bunch.

That farid taqasim by peter blew me away. Its by far the best I have heard from him hands down. And Afif is the Master! one String baby!!

Jameel seems like you liked that ebony oud? tell us more about the ouds you played with at the oud summit

oudplayer - 10-2-2006 at 05:04 PM

hey mike
thx for everything i feel like i was there thx again
btw what was rufi oud made of
thx sammy

revaldo29 - 10-2-2006 at 05:51 PM

Hey Mike,

Does Mr. Massoudi sing professional? He has an incredible voice.

adnan

MrOud - 10-2-2006 at 06:15 PM

Thanks a lot for sharing these. How about an East Coast / Canada gathering guys?

oudplayer - 10-2-2006 at 07:28 PM

hey i am down we should deffiently have one
thx sammy

Jameel - 10-3-2006 at 09:28 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SamirCanada

Jameel seems like you liked that ebony oud? tell us more about the ouds you played with at the oud summit


I played a while bunch of ouds that weekend, and they all had their flavors. The ones that really stood out? Mike's Ebony Shehata was very very nice. An excellent instrument. A bit heavy (ebony!), with a varnished soundboard, but very nice to play with great response and sweet sound. Mike had this strung with a premium set of Pyramids, with the gg course wound. This course seems to be the trickiest to get just right, but these are spot on. (As a little advertisement, look for these and other Pyramid strings on a brand new Khalaf Oud website soon). Lee's 7-course Azar had a unique sound, the lower end having a very typical Syrian sound, while the upper end was very Bashir-style in flavor. A very interesting combo. The oud I play in the Zikryati video at Wael's was very nice. I don't remember the maker though. Maybe Mike can chime in with that answer. Jonathan's Dincer was simply beautiful with the gorgeous figured wood and tight construction. Very easy to play with a typical Turkish sound. I really like those low-profile Turkish-style necks. Mike's Ebony was the favorite of the ones I played though.

SamirCanada - 10-3-2006 at 11:38 AM

Excellent Jameel thanks for the info.
Looking forward for the oud to be finished friend.
Let me know if your bringing your oud up to montreal or Ottawa. It will be my pleasure to have a go at it. :D

btw.. I sent you U2U

mavrothis - 10-4-2006 at 11:13 AM

Man, you guys had an amazing time, I wish I was there this time too...thanks for sharing though, it's almost like being there. :)

LET'S HEAR IT FOR OUDS!

Anyone who would like to organize a similar casual get-together here on the East Coast, you know I'm game. :)

See ya,

mavrothis

TruePharaoh21 - 10-20-2006 at 02:20 PM

Hey guys,

I want to thank everyone for their kind words. The real person that should be getting all the praise is Jameel. What an oud! And, to top it off, he's really a great guy. Hats off to your work, Jameelo.

TP21