Joseph Tawadros
Joseph Tawadros AM (born 1983 in Cairo, Egypt) is a Coptic Australian oud virtuoso.[1] Tawadros has won the ARIA Award for Best World Music Album three times; 2012, 2013 and 2014.[2]
Joseph Tawadros | |
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![]() Tawadros at the 2014 ARIA Music Awards, Sydney, 26 November 2014 | |
Background information | |
Born | 6 October 1983 |
Origin | Cairo, Egypt |
Genres | jazz, World music, Classical |
Occupation(s) | musician/composer |
Instruments | oud |
Years active | 1995—present |
Website | josephtawadros.com |
Biography
His family emigrated from Egypt to Australia when he was three.[3] Initially attracted to the trumpet, he decided to learn the oud when he was eight, after seeing a movie about Egyptian musician Sayed Darwish.[4] He is classically trained, having completed a bachelor of music at the University of New South Wales, where he was awarded a Freedman Fellowship for Classical Music.[3] In the 2000s, he also studied in Egypt with violin player Esawi Dagher, son of the legendary violin player Abdo Dagher. During the years that followed, he spent three months a year in Egypt and learned to play other instruments: the bamboo flute nay, the Arabic zither qanun and the cello.[4]
At the ARIA Music Awards of 2012, he won the ARIA Music Awards for the Best World Music Album.[5] He won the same award again in 2013 and 2014.
Style
Joseph Tawadros' style could be described as eclectic. According to Sydney Morning Herald, "he has taken the oud out of its traditional Middle Eastern setting and into the realm of classical music and jazz".[3] "I don't like to play in a particulare genre, I love all sorts of music", Tawadros explains. "I try to record an album a year and one that's totally different from the previous album".[6] He has collaborated with musicians such as John Abercrombie, Jack DeJohnette, Roy Ayers, Bela Fleck, Joey DeFrancesco, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and The Academy of Ancient Music.
Joseph Tawadros plays 52 instruments on his album World Music (including oud, qanun, saz, violin, ney, Portuguese guitar, electric bass, kalimba and accordion) and his brother James 11 percussion instruments.[7]
Discography
Albums
Title | Details |
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Storyteller |
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Rouhani (With Bobby Singh) |
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Visions (With James Tawadros) |
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Epiphany (With James Tawadros and Ben Rodgers) |
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Angel (With James Tawadros and Dimitri Vouros) |
|
The Prophet |
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The Hour of Separation |
|
Band of Brothers (with Slava & Leonard Grigoryan and James Tawadros) |
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Concerto of The Greater Sea |
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Chameleons of the White Shadow |
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Permission to Evaporate |
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Truth Seekers Lovers and Warriors |
|
World Music |
|
Live at Abbey Road (with James Tawadros) |
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Ali's Wedding (soundtrack) (with Nigel Westlake, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Slava Grigoryan and Lior) |
|
The Bluebird, the Mystic and the Fool |
|
Betrayal of a Sacred Sunflower |
|
Live at the Sydney Opera House[8] (with James Tawadros, Benjamin Northey and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra) |
|
Awards
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Tawadros has won four awards from sixteen nominations.[9]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | Storyteller | Best World Music Album | Nominated |
2006 | Visions (with James Tawadros) | Best World Music Album | Nominated |
2007 | Epiphany | Best World Music Album | Nominated |
2008 | Angel | Best World Music Album | Nominated |
2010 | The Prophet | Best World Music Album | Nominated |
The Hours of Separation | Best Jazz Album | Nominated | |
2011 | Band of Brothers (with Slava & Leonard Grigoryan & James Tawadros) | Best World Music Album | Nominated |
2012 | Concerto of the Greater Sea | Best World Music Album | Won |
2013 | Chameleons of the White Shadow | Best World Music Album | Won |
2014 | Permission to Evaporate | Best World Music Album | Won |
2015 | Truth Seekers, Lovers and Warriors | Best World Music Album | Nominated |
2016 | World Music | Best World Music Album | Nominated |
2017 | Live at Abbey Road | Best World Music Album | Nominated |
Ali's Wedding (with Nigel Westlake, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Slava Grigoryan & Lior) | Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album | Won | |
2018 | The Bluebird, The Mystic and the Fool | Best World Music Album | Nominated |
2019 | Betrayal of a Mystic Flower | Best World Music Album | Nominated |
See also
- Copts in Australia
- List of oud players
References
- Creagh, Sunanda (1 November 2006). "Joseph Tawadros – Gig Reviews". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
- "Joseph Tawadros, ARIA Music Awards". www.ariaawards.com.au. ARIA Music Awards.
- Creagh, Sunanda (27 October 2012). "From ancient strings, a new mood for the oud". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- "Long journey from Redfern to a world of musical riches for Joseph Tawadros". The Australian. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- Creagh, Sunanda (28 March 2013). "Oud player keeps good company". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- "The Dreamers. Joseph Tawadros". mapmagazine. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- Shand, John (15 April 2016). "Joseph Tawadros review : Only eight instruments? he's not trying hard enough". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- "Live at the Sydney Opera House". Apple Music. June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2002.
- "ARIA Awards Search Results – Joseph Tawadros". ARIA Awards. ARIA Awards. Retrieved 26 April 2020.