WOMAD

Hossam Ramzy & His Egyptian Orchestra

From Egypt

If Hossam Ramzy carries a calling card, it surely bears the legend 'master percussionist by appointment to the stars'. He's appeared on recordings by the likes of Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and Peter Gabriel, and played with Khaled, Rachid Taha and The Gypsy Kings among a host of other global names. His impressively eclectic list of credits is a testament to the versatility of the Cairo-born percussionist and arranger who was given his first drum, an Egyptian tabla, at the age of three. After studying with the Bedouin tribes of Saudi Arabia, in the mid-70s he came to England and enjoyed considerable success as a jazz drummer. Looking for new dimensions to his music, he eventually returned to his first love, Egyptian music and oriental percussion. Since then, his thrilling rhythms have been heard on literally hundreds of world music albums and he's also become an in-demand string arranger. So just where has he found the time to release a none-too-shabby 20-odd albums under his own name?

Biog by Nigel Williamson