Presentation
The group was founded in Tunis in 2008 around an unexpected duo of instruments: the bass and the Qanun.
Nidhal Jaoua offers a new playing technique on this traditional 78-string instrument created in the 9th century in the Middle East. As for Slim Abida, he goes beyond the usual framework reserved for bassists by using his instrument as a soloist.
It is these artistic choices that give JAZZ OIL a particular identity and musical color.
The project developed in 2012 with the integration of Marc Dupont on drums, Anthony Honnet on keyboard and Amir Mahla on saxophone, following meetings around the Parisian scene. These meetings gave birth to the release of the first official album “Lamma” on March 25, 2016 which will symbolize the conclusion of these musical meetings.
Since 2018, Edison Knight and Maamoun Dehane have replaced Marc Dupont and Anthony Honnet within Jazz Oil as members of the group and will therefore be present on the new Wasl project.
In 2023, the project experiences a change in its line-up with the arrival of Ala Ben Fguira on keyboard.
Jazz Oil returns to us with a new album “Wasl”. Jazz Oil has participated in various festivals such as the Carthage Musical Days in Tunisia or World Music in Gibraltar in Spain. He has also performed on Parisian stages (Sunset Side, Baiser Salé, Opening Concert of the Jamel Comedy Club, Royal Est Music, Espace Reuilly Diderot for the Tunisian Revolution Day, etc.).
Musicians
Slim Abida
A true musical chameleon, he plays metal, reggae, gnawi, jazz and many other styles. He belongs to the closed circle of established artists in Tunisia.
In 2002, he was one of the founders of the first metal group, “Melmoth”, which became one of the best-known groups on the rock and metal scene in Tunisia.
He was also the first to play outside of borders, participating in the Lelahel Metal International Festival in Algeria in 2002 and the Boulevard des Jeunes International Festival in Casablanca, Morocco in 2006.
In 2005, Slim Abida participated in the launch of a new project, “Goultrah Sound System”, a fusion of Gnawi, dub and reggae. He met with real success with the Tunisian public and made numerous appearances on stage all over Tunisia. They recorded a 4-track EP which was a huge success and an album. He also recorded an album with singer Badiaa Bouhrizi alias “Neyssatou” and another entitled “Fikra” (idea in Arabic) with Haydar Hamdi and his group Barbaroots, released on May 25, 2015 in France.
Nidhal Jawa
A precocious musician, Nidhal JAOUA enrolled at the national conservatory of Tunis at the age of 11, obtained a diploma in Arabic music in 2005, in instrument in 2006, a master’s degree in music and musicology in 2010 and a Master’s degree in Musicology at Paris Sorbonne in 2012.
He was strongly influenced by Turkish music and new Qanun playing techniques in Turkey, in the light of the master Muslum Karaduman and two of the most famous Qanun players in the world, Halil Karaduman and Gokçel Baktagir.
Nidhal discovered and practiced jazz at the Higher Institute of Music in Tunis. There he began an instrumental career based on crossbreeding.
He accompanies several oriental groups and famous Arab singers, including Ghalia BenAli, Heni Chaker, Wael Jassar and Rami Ayech. He has participated in numerous jazz master classes given, among others, by the great Belgian jazzmen Pierre Vaiana, Pirly Zurstrassen, Alain Pierre, Jean Louis Rassinfosse, Antoine Cirri. He also participated in Couleurs jazz with Fawzi Chekili.
Ala Ben Fguira
Trained pianist, arranger, composer, Ala Ben Fguira excels as much in the work of sound textures as in playing technique. His musical influences are very rich, and his penchant for the diversity of styles oscillates between classical music, oriental jazz, Hip Hop, Rock or Electro. A graduate in music and musicology at the Institut Supérieur de Tunis, he stored up his playing technique to put it at the service of a multitude of projects which will take him to play on very beautiful stages, notably those of the Carthage Festival, of the Hammamet Festival, and the Olympia, and take part
to fascinating projects such as “Song for World Peace” or “Symphonic Fusion”. Her perfect mastery of different musical styles has allowed her to perform alongside big names such as Lena Chamamyan. Eager to take part in a multitude of musical adventures, he currently gives numerous concerts in Germany, Sweden, Belgium, France and Saudi Arabia.
Amir MAHLA
Born in Paris, of French-Moroccan origin, he began studying the saxophone at the age of seven. In 2012, he obtained his final diploma from the Paris National Conservatory in classical music. He then followed a jazz course and obtained his final diploma. He plays mainly on the Parisian scene (Partonaria musical, among others, with Philippe Baden Powell, Pablo U-Wa, Laurent Medelgi).
Maamoun Dehane
Algerian drummer born August 19, 1981 in Oran, Algeria, from a family of musicians. Very early on, he accompanied his father, a musician, music teacher and singer, on the Algerian stages. He then followed classical training for five years at the Music Institute of Oran, where he learned the cello, among other instruments, but quickly stood out for his interest in percussion. He started playing drums at the age of 15.
Influenced by his American idols Simon Philips and Vinnie Colaiuta, of whom he is a particular fan, he adapts his playing to the groovy American style. His Mediterranean origins and his love for jazz, jazz fusion and jazz rock allow him to tame music with a diversity and warmth which allowed him to share the stage with the great drummer Karim Ziad, and to work with many artists known both on the North African and African scenes. He has performed alongside Cheikh Tidiane, Khaled, Zahouania, Takfarinas, the Gaada group, and many others. He makes numerous appearances on major stages in France and in many countries.