Cairo jazz festival
The Cairo Jazz Festival took place for the first time on the year 2009.
Why?
The fact that Egypt,the land of pharaohs who invented almost everything-including vending machines- doesn't host a Jazz festival didn't make sense at all so agwa productions took over the responsibility to correct this situation by organizing the First One ever,with the help of other institutions and individuals.
2009 Line-up
River Hall - SAWY Center - Zamalek
Thursday 12 March 2009
The Riff Band (Egypt)
Thomas Motter & Moon Base (Germany)
Friday 13 March 2009
The Rashad Fahim Trio (Egypt/France)
Fathy Salama & Sharkiat (Egypt)
Saturday 14 March 2009
Boghdady Big Band feat. Yehia Khalil (Egypt)
Cocoon (Egypt)
Theodosii Spassov World Groove Band (Bulgaria)
Sunday 15 March 2009
Eftekasat feat. Theodosii Spassov (Egypt/Bulgaria)
Wust El Balad (Egypt)
Cairo Jazz Club (Jazz Beyond stage shows)
Thursday 12 March 2009
Fathy Salama and Sharkiat (Egypt)
Friday 13 March 2009
Thomas Motter & Moon Base (Germany)
Saturday 14 March 2009
Wust El Balad (Egypt)
Sunday 15 March 2009
Theodosii Spassov World Groove band (Bulgaria)
The Jazz Society of Egypt
The festival was the inauguration of the Jazz Society of Egypt,the first of its kind in the nation to bring jazz lovers and professionals together, with the goal of promoting Jazz music awareness and organizing jazz music workshops-free of charge-to young aspiring Jazz musicians.
Controversy
The fact that the contemporary music band Wust El-Balad did the closing act stirred up great controversy AbOUT them being not a strictly Jazz band.The organizing committee responded to this saying Jazz isn't about the music or MusicAL 'racism'and saying it's a mindset that encourages diversity.They also defended the choice by mentioning the fact that Paris Jazz Festival hosted reggae,pop and electro music sessions in 2008.
Who helped?
Sawy Culturewheel,run by Engineer Abd Elmon'eim Elsawy was the answer for the perfect venue,situated in the heart of Cairo with the great atmosphere ,facilities and the desire -that matched that of the organizers- to make the festival a huge success.
Modern Touch Entertainment and Event Planning, one of the leading operators in Egypt planned for the event from A-2-Z with their operations team and help desks.
Cairo Jazz Club did the catering.
Virgin Megastores The German Embassy in Cairo
Travcotels
Diwan Bookstores had a booth on the festival venue that made CDs of the performing artists available for audience.
The Jazz Society of Egypt