Basem Darwisch


Basem Darwisch is an Egyptian–German composer, producer and oud virtuoso. He is the founder of Cairo Steps Ensemble, He is the first musician in the Middle East to be awarded the German golden jazz award in 2018 and 2021.

Education

Darwisch studied German linguistics at Ain Shams University and classical music at the Arabic music academy in Cairo. He won prizes for Best Oud Player in 1985 and 1986.
By the end of 1986 he had moved to Austria and then Germany, where he studied Egyptology and ethnology at Heidelberg University.

Career

Darwisch started his professional carrier in 1986 at the Theatre of AlTali'aa in Cairo with the Egyptian composer Waguih Aziz, In 1994 he joined the folklore group Salamat in Germany with Sudanese and Egyptian musicians. He played with Salamat for many years in France, Spain, England and Germany.
Darwisch joined many Afro Egyptian and Arabic groups in Europe between 1994 and 1997. Then in 1997 in Berlin with Hossam Shaker they founded new form of the Egyptian group Rahalah, with different concerts, workshops in Spain, Germany and Egypt.
In 1999, he joined Sharkiat band for Fathy Salama, Grammy award 2005 winner in concerts in Cairo opera house, El Qalaa Festival and Alexandria in Egypt. In 2000 Darwisch joined Mohamed Mounir Band and played with Mounir Concerts in Morocco, Berlin and other European cities.
In 2000, Darwisch formed with the German pianist Matthias Frey and former BAP Saxophonist Büdi Siebert an oriental jazz Trio with Concerts in Germany and Egypt.

Discography

Bassem Darwisch led his team, Cairo Steps, to produce 5 albums and a large number of singles:
Year of ReleaseAlbum nameContentNotes
2012Oud Lounge
  1. Cairo Steps*
  2. Memories
  3. Triomania
  4. Samai Darwisch
  5. Sun Rise
  6. Taqsim Oud
  7. Alpha Omega
  8. Desert Road
  9. Min Awel Lamsa
*Cairo Steps was redistributed in another version and released on the same album
2016Arabiskan
  • Sultan
  • Nubian Groove
  • Shams
  • Amber
  • Siwa**
  • Bokra
  • Alif
  • La Sua Bucca
  • Arabiskan*
    • *Ali El Helbawy sang Arabiskan in Flying Carpet album
    • **The song was sung by Marwa Nagy with Siwa Music.
    2016Silk Road
    1. Voyage Oriental
    2. Jaipur Express
    3. Constantinople Dance Palace
    4. Floating On Syr Darya
    5. Riders Of Tashkent
    6. Feathers and flames
    7. Samarkand 1001
    8. The Prince Of Turfan
    9. Taklan Makan
    10. Moon Over Issyk kul
    11. Market Of Kashgar
    2017Flying Carpet
  • Sansibar
  • Khaliji Steps
  • Shams
  • Dance Du Nil
  • Arabiskan
    • Electronic Music
  • Iboto
  • Mirage
  • Sultan
  • Arabiskan
    • SoundtrackSeven to One
    Inspirational MusicOud Mood of the day
    Inspirational MusicDuduk and Oud dialog moodWith Ragheed William
    2014SinglesGnossienne No.1Remix feat Sheikh Ehab Younis
    2014 - 2015SinglesJe nai nanfeat Sheikh Ehab Younis, Ali El Helbawy, Monica George and Peter Ghattas.
    2014SinglesI can Sayfeat Maher Fayez.
    2015SinglesAripsalinfeat Monica George and Peter Ghattas.
    2015SinglesMariamfeat Monica George and Peter Ghattas.
    2015SinglesBeredakRemix feat Marwa Nagy
    2015SinglesAl MokhtarRemix feat Marwa Nagy
    2015SinglesGnossienneNew Remix
    2017SinglesPalladioNew Remix
    2017SinglesAdagioRemix feat Sheikh Ehab Younis
    2020SinglesMalek ElMolkfeat Sheikh Ehab Younis

    Awards

    On 19 April 2018, Cairo Steps Founder Basem Darwisch collected The German Jazz Music award at Berlin ceremony with the ensemble members including Inas Abdeldayem, Minister of Culture of Egypt, The ensemble received the award for their album Flying Carpet, which they created with German band Quadro Nuevo.
    On 12 October 2021, Basem Darwisch collected The German Jazz Music award with Quadro Nuevo for his track "Cafe Groppi" in their album "MARE".