Soulful sounds and mellow magic at Algerian jazz fest

Record ID: 77227

  • Title: Soulful sounds and mellow magic at Algerian jazz fest
  • Date: 27th November 2016
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAZZ MUSICIAN, COURTNEY PINE, SAYING: "I really enjoyed Dimajazz. I was treated so well. The audience was great. The people were great. I had a fantastic time. I wish I can come back and see some more shows. Thank you very much."
  • Embargoed: 12th December 2016 11:38
  • Keywords: Constantine Algeria jazz music festival Martha High Bouzid Zoheir
  • Location: CONSTANTINE, ALGERIA
  • City: CONSTANTINE, ALGERIA
  • Country: Algeria
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Music
  • Reuters ID: LVA0085A7XUMT
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Attendees at the Dimajazz International Jazz Festival in Algeria's Constantine danced the night away as they were treated to performances by musicians from around the world.
    The 14th edition of the festival is the biggest so far, with around 3,000 music lovers attending on each night of the six-day long event, according to organisers.
    The Celtic Social Club opened the festival, while Cairo Jazz station - a band who play a collaboration of jazz and contemporary Middle Eastern music - played on day two.
    Among the other international performers was American soul singer Martha High - who had the audience on their feet throughout her performance on Wednesday (November 23).
    "The Jazz festival was great; you know like I said the people made me feel that they enjoyed the show as well as I did. So it was great you know and I am very excited to be a part of the Jazz festival in Constantine," she said.
    Other performances at the event included a lively jazz set by British musician Courtney Pine as well as bands playing Algerian Berber music.
    Many of the audience were Dimajazz regulars who were full of praise for this year's show.
    "We spent very good moments. I come every year and each year we are very happy to see again the Dimajazz and always in Constantine," said festival attendee Sonia.
    "I really enjoyed it; it was nice and varied. Dimajazz is an event every year that is an unforgettable show," said another festival attendee, Warda.
    The festival organisers say Dimajazz is going from strength to strength. It was created in 2003 by four friends and jazz enthusiasts, but has since grown into a regular fixture on the international jazz calendar.
    "We began with just a few spectators but now we have reached three thousand spectators per day and I think that now that we have achieved this dream we have to work to make it more professional and to become a model for young people and make them hope and believe to establish their own future festivals or projects," said one of the organisers of the event, Bouzid Zoheir.
    The Dimajazz festival is one of 150 official festivals subsidised by the Algerian Ministry of Culture.
    Constantine, situated 400 km. east of the capital Algiers, is known for its arts and culture.
    UN World Heritage Centre UNESCO has previously recognised the importance of jazz in Constantine.
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