JOSEPH and JAMES TAWADROS | THE ART OF TAQASIM
October 2nd 2008 00:17
JOSEPH and JAMES TAWADROS
THE ART OF TAQASIM
Joseph Tawadros (Oud)
James Tawadros (Egyptian Percussion)
Thursday, 23th October, 2008. 8pm.
St. Stephens Church, 189 Church St, Newtown
Adult: $25 Concession: $20
For Bookings please email
Joseph and James Tawadros are not afraid to new try new things, experiment and push boundaries challenging traditional forms and bring an exciting performing dynamic to the stage. Brothers from a musical family they were brought up with music environment which encouraged music and individuality. The Tawadros brothers are recognised world wide and have performed in some of the worlds most prestigious venues with celebrated artists such as Zakir Hussain, Slava and Lenard Grigoryan, Richard Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sultan Khan and Camerata Salzburg to name a few. They have also been nominated 4 times consecutively for Best World Music Album at the ARIA awards.
Joseph Tawadros – Oud
Joseph Tawadros was born in Cairo on October, 1983. Immigrating to Australia in 1986, he brought with him a musical tradition inherited from his maternal grandfather, Mansi Habib (1920-1957), a composer and oud and violin virtuoso. Tawadros’ uncle, Yacoub Mansi Habib, who is recognised as one of the pioneering figures in Egyptian trumpet playing, also influenced Joseph’s musical development.
Joseph Tawadros has studied with Mohamed Youssef, a renowned oud player, jazz pianist and family friend. Youssef encouraged Joseph to explore the musical parameters of the oud and the improvisatory style of traditional Egyptian taqasim.
In 2004, Joseph released his debut album Storyteller (ABC Classics) which was nominated for an ARIA award for the Best World Music album, this was followed by a second album - Rouhani in 2005 (ABC Classics). Visions in 2006, Epiphany in 2007, Angel in 2008 were all nominated for ARIA awards for Best World Music Album in their respective years.
Joseph has performed at some of the world’s most prestigious venues with artists such as tabla master Zakir Hussain, sarangi master Sultan Khan, Mali band Tinariwen, Slava Grigoryan, Leonard Grigoryan, Adel Salameh, Fathi Salama, Christian Lindberg, Neil Finn, Mark Isaacs, William Barton, Lior, The Song Company, Riley Lee, Karen Schaupp, Bobby Singh, Katie Noonan, James Crabb, Camerata Salzburg, Richard Tognetti and The Australian Chamber Orchestra amongst many others.
In May 2006 Joseph graduated with a Bachelor of music with Honours from the University of NSW with a pioneering analysis on advanced techniques and applications in oud playing. In the same year Joseph was the youngest recipient of the very prestigious Freedman Fellowship for Classical Music- chosen from amongst Australia’s finest Classical musicians.
Joseph has also composed for film and theatre, most notably the documentaries “The last days of Yasser Arafat” and “I Remember Palestine” and play “The Gates of Egypt”. He has also completed compositions for animations with artist Michael Roseth.
Joseph performs on a Joseph Tawadros Signature Series Oud made by Faruk Turunz of Istanbul.
James Tawadros – Req’
James was born in Australia in January, 1989. The brother of oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros he was brought up in an environment which encouraged music, his grandfather being Mansi Habib, an oud and violin virtuoso (1920-1957), and his uncle Yacoub Mansi Habib the legendary Egyptian trumpet pioneer.
Although only 19yrs of age, James has already made a name for himself as a world class percussionist and soloist, and is receiving praise reserved for those well beyond his years.
His main instrument is the Req’, a small hand held tambourine, traditionally with skin covering and five pairs of cymbals.
He has performed with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and with such artists such as Slava and Leonard Grigoryan, Richard Tognetti, Camerata Salzburg, Katie Noonan Alister Spence, Abdo Dagher, James Crabb, Mark Isaacs, Jeremy Alsop, The Song Company, Mary Doumany, Al Slavik, William Barton and regularly accompanies his brother in concert.
In 2005 he was invited by Oud virtuoso Adel Salameh (France/Palestine) and singer Naziha Azzouz to tour Australia and New Zealand with them, performing in Womadelaide, Womad New Zealand, and the Global Beats Festival at the Sydney Opera House. He was also invited by famous Israeli musician Yair Dalal in an all star jam.
Amongst James’ highlights for 2006 was an invitation by the Australian Chamber Orchestra as a guest soloist for “The Travellers” national tour and an ARIA nomination for his album Visions, Epiphany and Angel.
THE ART OF TAQASIM
Joseph Tawadros (Oud)
James Tawadros (Egyptian Percussion)
Thursday, 23th October, 2008. 8pm.
St. Stephens Church, 189 Church St, Newtown
Adult: $25 Concession: $20
For Bookings please email
Joseph and James Tawadros are not afraid to new try new things, experiment and push boundaries challenging traditional forms and bring an exciting performing dynamic to the stage. Brothers from a musical family they were brought up with music environment which encouraged music and individuality. The Tawadros brothers are recognised world wide and have performed in some of the worlds most prestigious venues with celebrated artists such as Zakir Hussain, Slava and Lenard Grigoryan, Richard Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sultan Khan and Camerata Salzburg to name a few. They have also been nominated 4 times consecutively for Best World Music Album at the ARIA awards.
Joseph Tawadros – Oud
One of the most impressive musicians to emerge in Australia…with a dazzling technique dispensing hair raising tempos...his writing displays a real depth of emotion…reveling in a zest for life and celebration - The Australian
Joseph Tawadros was born in Cairo on October, 1983. Immigrating to Australia in 1986, he brought with him a musical tradition inherited from his maternal grandfather, Mansi Habib (1920-1957), a composer and oud and violin virtuoso. Tawadros’ uncle, Yacoub Mansi Habib, who is recognised as one of the pioneering figures in Egyptian trumpet playing, also influenced Joseph’s musical development.
Joseph Tawadros has studied with Mohamed Youssef, a renowned oud player, jazz pianist and family friend. Youssef encouraged Joseph to explore the musical parameters of the oud and the improvisatory style of traditional Egyptian taqasim.
In 2004, Joseph released his debut album Storyteller (ABC Classics) which was nominated for an ARIA award for the Best World Music album, this was followed by a second album - Rouhani in 2005 (ABC Classics). Visions in 2006, Epiphany in 2007, Angel in 2008 were all nominated for ARIA awards for Best World Music Album in their respective years.
Joseph has performed at some of the world’s most prestigious venues with artists such as tabla master Zakir Hussain, sarangi master Sultan Khan, Mali band Tinariwen, Slava Grigoryan, Leonard Grigoryan, Adel Salameh, Fathi Salama, Christian Lindberg, Neil Finn, Mark Isaacs, William Barton, Lior, The Song Company, Riley Lee, Karen Schaupp, Bobby Singh, Katie Noonan, James Crabb, Camerata Salzburg, Richard Tognetti and The Australian Chamber Orchestra amongst many others.
In May 2006 Joseph graduated with a Bachelor of music with Honours from the University of NSW with a pioneering analysis on advanced techniques and applications in oud playing. In the same year Joseph was the youngest recipient of the very prestigious Freedman Fellowship for Classical Music- chosen from amongst Australia’s finest Classical musicians.
Joseph has also composed for film and theatre, most notably the documentaries “The last days of Yasser Arafat” and “I Remember Palestine” and play “The Gates of Egypt”. He has also completed compositions for animations with artist Michael Roseth.
Joseph performs on a Joseph Tawadros Signature Series Oud made by Faruk Turunz of Istanbul.
James Tawadros – Req’
“What this boy can’t do with a tambourine isn’t worth trying. One moment it sounds like bongos, the next castanets, and often both together”
- The Australian
- The Australian
James was born in Australia in January, 1989. The brother of oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros he was brought up in an environment which encouraged music, his grandfather being Mansi Habib, an oud and violin virtuoso (1920-1957), and his uncle Yacoub Mansi Habib the legendary Egyptian trumpet pioneer.
Although only 19yrs of age, James has already made a name for himself as a world class percussionist and soloist, and is receiving praise reserved for those well beyond his years.
His main instrument is the Req’, a small hand held tambourine, traditionally with skin covering and five pairs of cymbals.
He has performed with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and with such artists such as Slava and Leonard Grigoryan, Richard Tognetti, Camerata Salzburg, Katie Noonan Alister Spence, Abdo Dagher, James Crabb, Mark Isaacs, Jeremy Alsop, The Song Company, Mary Doumany, Al Slavik, William Barton and regularly accompanies his brother in concert.
In 2005 he was invited by Oud virtuoso Adel Salameh (France/Palestine) and singer Naziha Azzouz to tour Australia and New Zealand with them, performing in Womadelaide, Womad New Zealand, and the Global Beats Festival at the Sydney Opera House. He was also invited by famous Israeli musician Yair Dalal in an all star jam.
Amongst James’ highlights for 2006 was an invitation by the Australian Chamber Orchestra as a guest soloist for “The Travellers” national tour and an ARIA nomination for his album Visions, Epiphany and Angel.
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