Kazbah is proud to present the musical genius that is U-Cef: DJ, producer, musician, drummer, turntablist, Gnawa maestro, U-Cef has been around the block and back again countless times.  Judging by the sheer scope of his collaborators in his catalogue, the venues he plays in and the numerous press articles about him, U-Cef’s talent is exceptional.  Catch him at Gilgamesh, Camden tomorrow, 24th November.  But first read on and listen to his tracks, click

Selected tracks from Halalium and one from Halalwood by U-Cef:
Halalium - Moorish Matador:
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Halalium - Gnasaid:
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Sonic Moor:
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Halalwood - Stick Feat. Damon Albarn:
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U-Cef’s genre busting style is inspired by the rhythms of his North African roots, the glamorous big orchestra sound of Khaleej (Arabian gulf) music (listen to Hilal above), which he mixes with European and US urban, tempo driven, gritty style.  See U-Cef as DJ in residence tomorrow 24th November playing at Camden’s Gilgamesh Kazbah Gilgamesh Listing. He plays two Saturdays out of four.  U-Cef’s fans can’t get enough, we saw U-Cef set the Scala’s dance floor on fire and his blend of urban and arabesque had both sexes fired up, a rare feature in today’s sonic landscape.

The music tells the story of the man.  At the knee of his Uncle Master Musician Rachid Yatribi, the young U-Cef discovered drums and learnt Gnawa rhythms realising that for him music meant life.  (Gnawa is the traditional healing music of Morocco that has been adopted by the Sufi tradition.)

In his twenties, already a skilled drummer U-Cef took the ferry from Tangiers to Spain. From Southern Spain he embarked on an odyssey absorbing street and underground musical styles from Madrid, Paris, Berlin, London and, eventually, New York, while busking, working as a waiter, selling CDs in street markets, assuming the camouflage uniforms of each culture.

The odyssey inspired U-Cef’s debut solo album, Halalium, an eclectic mix ranging from the haunting jazz/Spanish guitar/dub sound of Moorish Matador to pure Gnawa of Gnasaid Gnasaid see tracks above.  Halalium’s artistry is in the harmonious blend of flavours.  Forget World music, this is music of the world; gypsies, gangsters, Sufis, Kings of Cool meet and dance together in style, an adventure in sound.  In Halalium we have a talent whose “potential is as limitless as the Sahara”, Chris Nickson of the All Music Guide. 

Halalium is available on all good MP3 distributors, click the image below right to buy from itunes, or buy from Broadjam.

Today U-Cef has come to roost in North London playing all over the globe in festivals, clubs and venues while gathering material and collaborators for his current oeuvre, Halalwood, image at the top.   The energy of the street pervades throughout Halalwood, gritty guitars and rap meet and duel - play Boolandrix in the tracks above.

What began with Halalium has blossomed into Halalwood, it promises an unmissable sound, featuring artistes like Natacha Atlas and Amina Anabi who are emerging from the dungeon of world music to main stream stardom, and those artists who need no introduction like Damon Albarn, Robert Plant, Justin Adams and psychedelic legends Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy.

U-Cef knows no boundaries, his form and talent speak for themselves.

To contact U-Cef go to: http://www.u-cef.halalmonk.com/
For more aural pleasure go to:
 http://www.myspace.com/ucef
 http://www.myspace.com/halalium
 http://www.myspace.com/halalwood