Lamajamal's Page

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The group formed in 2004 after meeting for late night jam sessions at a belly dance store in Chicago. Since then they have played events such as the 2006-2008 Chicago World Music Fest, Chicago Turkish Festival, Milwaukee's Global Union fest, the Chicago Arabesque Festival, Chicago Cultural Center, CBS morning news, as well as local venues likt the Empty Bottle, the Hideout, the Double Door, Martyrs', and many more. Whether its a folk fest or an underground dance club, Lamajamal is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the most energetic live “gypsy party” bands in Chicago.

In 2007 Lamajamal released the album "Gypsy Surf", an edgy interpretation of Balkan and Arabic classics done on guitar, drum set, oud, clarinet and electric bass. Their follow up to Gypsy Surf, to be released this year, is a highly danceable blend of original music, and dance music from Turkey, the Balkans and the Middle East, recorded with a tasteful influence of urban production techniques such as dub and hip-hop.

In 2010, Lamajamal is also happy to release an album of Kashmiri folk music which was commissioned by the Funkar International Organization for the purpose of the preservation of the Kashmiri language and culture.

Artist, Performer, Activist, Arts Lover or Concerned Civilian?

Artist, Performer, Arts Lover

The culture(s) I call home and love the most are...

Middle Eastern, Balkan, Turkish

Right now I'm listening to...

Burhan Ocal, Selim Sesler, Anour Brahem, Augustus Pablo, Cheb Khaled, Dahmane El Harrachi, El Gran Silencio, Oum Kalthoum, Ez-Zouhour, Fairouz, Gnawa Diffusion, Manu Chao, Hozzam Ramzy, Trans Balkan Express, Simon Shaheen, John Lennon, Parliment Funkadelic, Ween, Ziad Rahbani, and many more!

The best global cultural event I went to recently was...

Radio M's 5 Year Anniversary Party at Martyrs

Website:

http://lamajamal.com