Dhafer youssef biography
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Dhafer Youssef is a Tunisian Oud player, vocalist and composer born in November 19th, in Teboulba. The son of a modest family from this Tunisian Center-Eastern fishing village, he comes from a long line of muezzins. Mastering vocal performances is to him a heritage and a family tradition.
At an early age, his grandfather initiates him to quranic recitals. He starts discovering the potential of his voice and finds his calling. Far from quranic school benches and his grandfather’s hard discipline, Dhafer Youssef tests his voice singing the songs played on his mother’s radio set. His mother’s kitchen becomes his first experimental laboratory, away from rigorist methods. At the age of 6, he discovers the echo of his voice and its resonances. He remembers spending hours singing in the Hammam of the local village. The resonances produced by his voice in that cavernous place fascinate him, nourishing his ardent juvenile curiosity: young Dhafer discovers his favorite toy.
Moved by the c
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With the release of his new album, Street of Minarets, the Tunisian oud maestro and vocalist searches deep to find new means of expression for his music.
In a journey of self-discovery, Youssef brings together contemporary jazz fused with the traditional music of Tunisia he learned as a child.
Sharing this journey with him are some of the of the foremost jazz musicians from the US and beyond in a line up that includes Herbie Hancock, bassists Dave Holland and Marcus Miller alongside guitarist Nguyên Lê and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire.
In a creative process that took many unexpected twists and turns along the way, Youssef has undoubtably recorded his most satisfying and personal statement to date, and it was a pleasure to be able to talk to Dhafer about his music.
Can you tell us a bit about your new album Street of Minarets and how did you prepare for the recording? Did you write the music first and then choose the musicians that you wanted, or did you select the musicians 
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Dhafer Youssef
Dhafer Youssef
ظافر يوسفDhafer Youssef, Tunisia,
Birth name Dhafer insekter som pollinerar Youssef insekter som pollinerar Tahar Maarref Born () 19 November (age&#;57)
Teboulba, Tunisia Origin Tunisia Genres Ethno jazz, world fusion, Sufi, qawwali, jazz fusion, new-age, jazztronica Occupation(s) Musician, singer Instrument(s) Oud, vocals Years active –present Labels Enja, Justin Time, Jazzland, EmArcy, Okeh, Back Beat Edition Website
Musical artist
Dhafer Youssef (Arabic: ظافر يوسف; born 19 November ) is a Tunisian composer, singer and oud player.
Biography
[edit]Dhafer Youssef was born in Téboulba (a small village of coastal Tunisia); his grandfather was a muezzin. He calls the radio "the most important school" for him.[1]
He developed an interest in jazz at an early age and clandestinely listened to it during his education at a Qur'anic school.[2] He later left Tunisia to början a jazz career and has lived in europe since
Dhafer Youssef
Dhafer Youssef ظافر يوسف | |
|---|---|
Dhafer Youssef, Tunisia, | |
| Birth name | Dhafer insekter som pollinerar Youssef insekter som pollinerar Tahar Maarref |
| Born | () 19 November (age&#;57) Teboulba, Tunisia |
| Origin | Tunisia |
| Genres | Ethno jazz, world fusion, Sufi, qawwali, jazz fusion, new-age, jazztronica |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer |
| Instrument(s) | Oud, vocals |
| Years active | –present |
| Labels | Enja, Justin Time, Jazzland, EmArcy, Okeh, Back Beat Edition |
| Website | |
Musical artist
Dhafer Youssef (Arabic: ظافر يوسف; born 19 November ) is a Tunisian composer, singer and oud player.
Biography
[edit]Dhafer Youssef was born in Téboulba (a small village of coastal Tunisia); his grandfather was a muezzin. He calls the radio "the most important school" for him.[1]
He developed an interest in jazz at an early age and clandestinely listened to it during his education at a Qur'anic school.[2] He later left Tunisia to början a jazz career and has lived in europe since