This co-existence runs through the music on several different levels. The Algerian drummer Karim Ziad is a-nother rising star on the international scene who has chosen Paris as his home. With his artfully stylized compositions and awareness of form and structure, the American saxophonist David Binney lets soloist the likes of Chris Potter and Uri Caine strut their stuff. Still an insider's tip a few years ago, the trio has become one of the jazz critic's favorite groups in the whole of Europe. In 2000 he was Germany's top rising star.
Improvisation plays a major role in both.
The distance between Brazil and Norway is surprisingly short, at least in musical terms. Just as the golden-shod feet of the immigrant's son Zinedine Zidane put their stamp on the French National Soccer Team's style, so too do North African sounds influence the French capital's contemporary music scene. It pays homage to Africa and at the same time to his current home, Paris. This Mediterranean island's best musicians assembled for the project, which has already achieved astounding success in its live version, a fascinating combination of the most authentic sounds possible and a historic film documentary. Traditional religious and secular music sung by the exceptional Sardinian vocalist Elena Led-da, is symbiotically combined with the improvisations of Fresu, accordionist Antonello Salis, and bassist Furio di Castri.