Tunisian Duo Bridges East and West with Unique Musical Fusion

The brothers M'raihi: Amine and Hamza

If you like Andalusian, Jazz, Middle Eastern, Flamenco, or classic Chamber music then you will find Amine and Hamza a very interesting duo. If you like all these genres, then you are in for a treat.

The two are brothers from Tunisia and they already produced six albums. Born in the late 1980s, the M’raihi brothers’ talent and multi-cultural exposure enable them to blend a variety of musical genres to produce some of the most interesting instrumentals ever heard. Amine and Hamza use conservative or traditional instruments such as the string instrument Kanun and the Aoud (lute) and surround themselves with more modern instruments bringing together a unique fusion of styles and concepts.

Their 2009 album 'Perpetual Motion' summarizes Amine and Hamza’s experience in style fusion. In the eight-track album, one can recognize a smooth blending of Spanish Flamenco with Middle Eastern tunes, in a format that is presented as if it were a classical presentation of sort. The tracks are enriched with rhythms from Andalusian Oriental music and Jazz rhythms, All of that by just using a handful of traditional instruments.

Although mostly instrumental, Perpetual Motion also uses a talented vocalist, who sadly is not named on the brothers’ website. The female vocalist is a great addition to an already good album in that it adds melody that could turn specific tracks into smooth background music as well.   

From my perspective, what is interesting about the duo’s music, and by extension the men themselves, is that their ability to blend genres and to marry eastern and western styles is a good representation of what Tunisia and its people are all about. In simple terms, they manage to articulate expressions that could be understood and consumed by anyone whether they are in the Arab world or in the West. This is certainly a trait and quality the Tunisian people should be proud of, one that enable them to bridge between cultures and civilizations that have been at odd with each others for centuries. No doubt that the two brothers are a direct expression of this ability and, in their own ways, they are contributing to sustaining it by making their music appreciable by both Western and Eastern audiences.

Despite their young age, Amine and Hamza have already built an impressive portfolio of albums (six already) and have been busy touring, including performances in Canada, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and even at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC here in the United States.  

Amine and Hamza have an informative website (http://www.amine-hamza.com), however, although allowing visitors to listen to their music and view a video, the site does not provide information on how to purchase their albums. Despite this miss, listening to streaming music from their website was an enjoyable experience indeed.