Yair Dalal as a soloist and with his ensemble AI OI, is a leading figure in Israeli music, playing also an important role within contemporary world music. Dalal is a fine composer, oud and violin player.
Yair Dalai was born in Israel in 1955 to parents who immigrated from Iraq. His musical skills vary from classical European music to jazz, rock, blues and Arabic Classical music, and his background as one of the latest representatives of Arab Jewish music from Iraq, has allowed him to develop this rare mix of traditional and modern .

Yair Dalal is also a strong advocate for peace in Israel and devotes his talent to abolishing the ideological barriers between people and in particular between Jews and Arabs.
In addition to innumerable concert performances around the world, Dalal has made impressively many recordings in a very short time period with excellent reviews in music magazines worldwide : Salaam 1994, AL OL 1995 , Music Channel - Warner 1995, Samar 1997, SILAN, 1997 Magda- Amiata SeshBesh - Enja 1998, AZAZME 1999 The Perfume Road 1999. "Shacharut" - 2000

The Tarab ensemble is a gathering of 5 men from the age of 20 til 70, all living in traditional tents in Negev. Except from Mohammad Abu Agag who is a music teacher these are not musicians by profession (in Western terms) but they decided to form this ensemble in order to preserve the Bedouin music tradition. The Bedouin music is performed in ceremonies and for practical use, such as calling for a meeting or delivering news by rhythms on the coffee grinder. The Bedouin music has an accentuated melodic line, reserved but extremely emotional expression. In this production there are no electronics used to design atmosphere.

Dalal has preferred to remain as authentic as possible. Therefore also the choice of recording the CD in the tent. Bedouin music and culture is slowly eliminated and this is an attempt to preserve at least a small repertoire of Bedouin music from the Negev.
Dalai's intimate reserved personality goes well with the Bedouins modest behavior. Their friendship goes years back. In the Seventies Yair traveled the Sinai and Negev deserts with his camel and violin. It was back then, that the strong bond with Bedouins was founded.
Yair Dalal, as a soloist and with his ensemble AI OI, is a leading figure in the Israeli music scene and within contemporary world music. Born in Israel, 1955 to parents who emigrated from Iraq, Yair Dalal has classical European violin training, but was in his childhood surrounded by the sounds of traditional oriental Jewish and Arabic music. Initially he chose not to pursue music professionally and became a nature guide, specializing in the desert. Dalal went to live in Kibbutz Samar in the Arava
desert, where he is still a member.

Hence, his musical skills vary from classical European music to jazz, rock, blues and Arabic classical music. His background as one of the latest representatives of Arab Jewish music from Iraq, has allowed him to develop this rare mix of traditional and modern, Jewish and Arab, Oriental and Western. His great talent is exemplified in his rare mixture combining these often-conflicting trends.
In the music of Dalal and AL OL these often-dissonant musical styles resonate peacefully and celebrate the ethnic traditions in which they are rooted.

Yair Dalal as a scholar, teaching in academic institutions, and performer is committed to the continuation of the Judeo Arabic tradition which developed throughout thousands of years in Moslem countries: (the Iraqi maqam and the Andalousian Nubah. ). This tradition was unfortunately stopped by force due to the political situation.
His musical and social activities have led to several projects such as: Shalom-Salaam, 1994 and at the Nobel Peace prize gala concert, both in Norway, Azazme project - CD and concert for the preservation of Bedouin music. The Mediterranean Musical conference, the establishing of the Middle East Session and several collaborations between musicians; in particular between Jews and Arabs.

Yair Dalal's cooperation with international musicians from various musical genres includes work with: Maestro Zubin Mehta and the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Gli Scapoli men's choir, Bel Canto group (Norway) , the Israel Chamber Orchestra, Hesperion XXI Jordi Savall & Montserrat Figueras ( Spain) L.Shankar (India/USA), Salim El Nur (Iraq/Israel), Michel Bismuth (France) , Josi Arnheim - Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, Ken Zuckerman (USA/Switserland ) Armand Amar (France) , Maestro Shlomo Mintz and Amnon Weinstein. (Israel), Maurice el Medioni (Algeria/France), Hamza El Din (Nobia - Egypt/USA) and others.
Yair Dalal perform around the globe as a solo artist and with his ensemble AL OL at music festivals ; including world music (WOMAD festivals around the world) folk jazz and classical and has recorded numerous recordings. The Cd's are in distribution world wide. Like the timeslessness of the tradition and rhythms of Dalal s composition the music is inescapably coalescent about shared traditions, shared instrumentation the vastness of desert time and space and about peace.

DISCOGRAPHY

"AL OL" . 1995. Yair Dalal - Najema Music
World distribution : AL SUR - MEDIA 7 ALCD 202
" SILAN " . 1997. Yair Dalal and the AL OL ensemble - Najema Music NAJ 3World Distribution: AMIATA Records -ARNR 1498
" SAMAR" . 1997. Yair Dalal
World distribution: Al Sur - Media 7 ALCD 222
" Music Channel " ( Israeli, Palestinian, Norwegian cooperation ). 1995
Warner Music
"SESH BESH". 1998. ENJA TIP 8888302
"AZAZME ". Yair Dalai & ensemble Tarab Najema Music - Magda Third Ear
"THE PERFUME ROAD" "Route des parfums " .1999. Najema Music - Magda
"SHACHARUT". 2000. Najema Music- Magda - NEW it

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