Ali S  

5

  5.0 (11)

Instruments: Drums
Styles: Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country

I am a 36 year old Egyptian from Cairo currently living in Oakland, CA. I started drumming at age 12, influenced by my older brother who introduced me to music at an early age. My earliest influence was rock music (classic rock, progressive rock and some metal). My life changed after discovering Miles Davis and my love for jazz. It changed again when I discovered IDM electronic music and came to the realization that good music is good music and quickly embraced all genres and styles, with the belief that in order to be a successful professional drummer, one must be open to all and learn as much styles as one can. I have performed countless times at the Cairo Jazz Club, Cairo Opera House, as well as many other cultural centers and theaters all over Egypt. Some of the acts I've been a part of include an electro-acoustic duo with synths and drums, an industrial electronic rock band writing songs in English and Arabic. I was also the lead drummer for the AUCeyat Arab music ensemble for many years. It was there with AUCeyat at the American University in Cairo that I met my now wife who is also a tabla player. My main instrument is western drum kit, however being Egyptian I have always been familiar with and influenced by Egyptian rhythms and in 2015, I started taking lessons with a tabla (darbuka/doumbek) master, and have been teaching tabla myself to students for 5 years now. Recently relocated to Oakland in 2023 with my wife, I am excited to share my passion for percussion with Bay Area students to help them reach their drumming goals!