gregory dargent

L'Hijâz'Car

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"At the dawn of the 2000s, L'Hijâz'Car built its first golden bridges. Of those who light up the türkish nights and bring together the East and the West, the sacred and the profane. Until now known as a luxury squadron at the service of the majestic Houria Aïchi or the Tuareg formation of Tamanrasset by Lalla Tahra (creation Sha'Ir Majnûn), it was not until a decade and a few hundred concerts around the world (Berliner Philharmoniker, the Brazilian Cultural Mercado), for their first album to be released. Raised in the musical liturgies of Olivier Messiaen as much as in the Tuareg trance, the experiments of Fred Frith and the Kurdish bards, there is never any question of "fusion" in their music but of a common A.D.N invented. Here Mingus escapes from a radio station in Algiers, there, Pasolini films the funeral procession of Atatürk, Gil Evans crosses Taksim place in an Ottoman Sedan and one hears in the distance megacities to be built in full desert.Ils Invent a modern and contemporary tradition, an original soundtrack of a dreamed cinematic, a rumor formed by all the languages ​​of the world but of which they alone master the scholarly and furiously free grammar. They learned the light in the shade of the Divas and now, finally, they take the road again…. " BABX

 

Their first instrumental record - after the success of their collaboration with Houria Aïchi "Riders of the Aurès" - has been reviewed in the major European medias as an outstanding work of art. L’Hijâz’Car follows its path on tour, presenting its repertoire in major festivals and venues, both into jazz (Jazzahead, Jazz & the City Salzburg, WinterJazz Brussels..) and world music (Womad UK, EthnoPort Poznan, Suds, in Arles..).

L’Hijâz’Car, music without borders.

 

 

fROOTS (UK)

“Probably the best album I’ve heard so far this year”
"One album that I've not been able to stop playing since it came through my door. Give it a listen and you may find yourself subject to a similar fate. Lucky you."
 

SONGLINES (UK)

"2nd best album ever made by their label Buda Musique"

"A sophisticated, thrilling, inventive disc (...) A mature, enjoyably atmospheric triumph"
 

JAZZTHING (DE) 

"Here, Led Zeppelin's direct energy meets the brainy convolutions of Rabih Abou-Khalil and the imaginary folklore of Louis Sclavis."

 

CONCERTO (AT)

“5*/5” "L'Hijâz'Car gratifies us with a musical colored firework, rythmically captivating, breaking down all boundaries" 

LES INROCKS (FR)
"L'Hijâz'Car is back with a vigorous first record. They are working on tensions, looking for paroxysms." 
 

LIBÉRATION (FR)
"L'Hijâz'Car fills up with stars the venues of the world." 
 

MONDOMIX (FR)
"Naturally free and expertly arranged, this record is a generous labyrinth where it's nice to wander." 
 

JAZZ NEWS (FR)
"The French band transforms every performance in a charm offensive." 

 

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