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AYRAD
Winner of the 2012 Diversity Award
January 25 & 26, 2013
8 pm
Montreal, January 22, 2013 — The MAI (Montréal arts
interculturels) will present, for two nights only, AYRAD
one of Montreal’s most inspiring bands. The recipient of
the 2012 Diversity Award, AYRAD explores a range of
musical styles through festive pieces that draw their vitality
from the sounds of Andalusian, Berber and flamenco
rhythms joined with reggae, Latin and Moroccan chaabi
© Fath-Allah Laghrizmi
grooves. This sextet stands out for its poetry and
inspirational melodies in which improvisation plays a
« AYRAD présente un son folk, des mélodies à
significant role.
la fois entraînantes, originales et inspirantes,
The Diversity Award in music is awarded to an artist or a
mises en mots par une poésie en français et
collective working within the parameters of world music
arabe et sur laquelle vibre la voix exceptionnelle
and who are a part or many of Montreal’s cultural
(à vous en donner des frissons) de Hamza. »
communities. This annual award is presented in partnership
LA PRESSE
with the Conseil des arts de Montréal, CBC Music, Place
des Arts , Vision Diversité and MAI.
Between Fes and Montreal: at the crossroads of the world’s sounds
Born in the age-old medina of Fes, Morocco’s cultural and spiritual capital, Hamza Abouabdelmajid has settled
in Quebec in 2005. AYRAD is the brainchild of composer / singer Hamza Abouabdelmajid and oboist Annick
Beauvais, who are joined by four multi-instrumentalists: Gabriel Brochu-Lajoie – bass, double bass & voice –,
Anit Ghost – violin –, Kattam Laraki-Côté – percussion – and Bertil Schulrabe – drums – known for their
mastery of Eastern-inspired and hybrid world music. A finalist in the 2012 Mon accès à la scène competition, the
group has performed in Montreal on many occasions most notably at the events Babel musique and Rendez-vous
des rythmes du monde at the Place des Arts. Winner of the 2012 Diversity Award, “AYRAD has been recognized
for its excellent mastery of the instruments and the authenticity of its musical approach.”
AYRAD: a festive and uplifting sextet
AYRAD (pronounced “hi-e-rad”) is the name of the group but also recalls the Berber first name of the singer,
composer and guitarist: Hamza. Born into a family of musicians, Abouabdelmajid is a founding member, with his
brother Khalil, of the band Bambara Trans, winner of the Révélations Radio-Canada Musique award in 2010-2011.
Oboist, bassist and chorus singer, Annick Beauvais collaborates with many bands – Syncop, Absinthe, Perdu
l’Nord, Ragleela, etc. Soloist in 2007 for the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, she also participated in the
recording of many albums and soundtracks including Cirque du Soleil’s Cavalia and Felix Grey’s musical
Sherazade.
Bass and double bass player Gabriel Brochu-Lajoie has shared the stage with the likes of Jean Leloup, Les
Colocs, Normand Guilbeault and Bernard Primeau. His projects take him through a wide range of musical styles,
from blues to jazz, rock, pop, reggae and funk. Besides his extensive stage experience in a dozen of countries,
Brochu-Lajoie has collaborated on more than twenty albums.
Fiery violinist, Anit Ghosh is inspired by Turkish and Romanian gypsy music. Multi-instrumentalist, he perfected
his mastery of Eastern violin in Istanbul. Ghosh has participated in the European tours of Juan José Carranza,
Hassan El-Hadi and the Montreal bands Weshida and La Chango Family, winner of the “Choix du Public” award
at the Montreux Jazz Festival, in Switzerland, in 2004.
Percussionist for many bands – Wesli Band, Bambara Trans, La Mandragore, La famille Zon – Kattam LarakiCôté has extensive stage experience. He has refined his mastery of congas and timbales in Cuba and his knowledge
of djembe and doum-doum under the masters Mamady Keïta and Famoudou Konaté in Guinea.
Versatile drummer and seasoned percussionist, Bertil Schulrabe has realized Dancing Rhythms, a first solo album
illustrating the richness of world rhythms. His refined and personalized style has enabled him to play with the
Orchestre de chambre I Musici de Montréal as well as with the likes of Zachary Richard, Lynda Thalie and Said
Mesnaoui. His musical style ranges from pop to funk via jazz, fusion, rock and world music.
Broadcast/podcast of AYRAD concerts on CBC Music
The concert on January 26th will be recorded and broadcast on Tuesday, March 19 on Canada Live heard Monday
through Thursday at 7 pm on CBC Radio 2 in Montreal at 93.5 FM and hosted by Andrew Craig. The concert will
also be available on podcast at CBC Music.ca throughout the month of April. Experience CBC Music online at
cbcmusic.ca.
AYRAD
Winner of the 2012 Diversity Award
January 25 & 26, 2013
Both concerts by Ayrad are being presented in collaboration with
Box Office: (514) 982-3386
http://www.myspace.com/AYRADband
http://www.m-a-i.qc.ca/
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