Al-Kindi Ensemble

About the Artist

Julien Jalâl Eddine Weiss is French of Swiss and Alsatian origins. He was born in Paris in 1953 and was converted to the Muslim faith in 1986. He has become an absolute expert on the board zither (qânûn), after receiving instruction from masters all over the Arab world - in Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. He is both a soloist and accompanist in the Al-Kindi Ensemble which he founded in 1983. In the concert world, his constant search for Arab vocalists to accompany or record, who are entirely unknown in the West, has turned him into a sort of ideal link between two worlds. This link has become even more solid since he set up home in a 16th century Mameluk palace where he organises regular music-room concerts in the old traditional style. He travels constantly all over Europe with illustrious Oriental vocalists - Hussein al-Azami from Iraq, Sabri Moudallal, Omar Sarmini and Adib Daiykh from Aleppo, Sheikh Hamza Shakkur from Damascus and Lotfi Bushnak from Tunisia.

Ziyâd Qâdî AMIN is a flautist from Damascus, a pupil of Abdelsalam Safar and considered to be the best exponent of the ney (reed flute) in Syria. He has been a member of the Al-Kindi Ensemble for several years now and takes part in all their European tours.

Muhammad Qadri DALAL was born in Aleppo in 1946. He is a peerless master of the Arab lute (oud) and is very well-known in his own country. He carries on the traditional Aleppian style for his instrument, a style emanating from the Turkish school, aiming at a smooth, rounded sound. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the traditional repertory.

Adel Shams EDDINE was born in Cairo in 1950, but is currently living in France. He has been one of the mainstays of the Al-Kindi Ensemble ever since it was created, and indeed he has become indispensible as an accompanist. His total mastery of even the most complex rhythmic cycles have made him a much respected performer on the riqq (tambourine).