1 00:00:50,917 --> 00:00:56,083 At this time, we need to understand each others’ mentalities 2 00:00:56,208 --> 00:01:00,583 and affirm to the whole world that we exist. 3 00:01:01,042 --> 00:01:02,917 Egypt does not rest. 4 00:01:33,500 --> 00:01:37,375 Joining us today is Amr Salah, director and founder of the Cairo Jazz Festival. 5 00:01:37,583 --> 00:01:39,000 A warm welcome, Amr. 6 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:40,167 - Hello, Hi! 7 00:01:40,167 --> 00:01:42,250 - Firstly, congratulations! I'm very excited about the festival. 8 00:01:42,458 --> 00:01:49,125 Thank you. Hopefully, everything will turn out well. A lot of effort has gone into this edition. 9 00:01:49,250 --> 00:01:53,750 The festival will take place at two venues, the Genena Theatre and the Lake Stage. 10 00:01:53,917 --> 00:02:00,542 The Lake Stage is the main stage next to the lake inside the Azhar Park. 11 00:02:00,667 --> 00:02:03,792 - Why don't you tell us about the volunteers, especially the young people? 12 00:02:04,042 --> 00:02:06,500 To be honest, I don't have a big crew. 13 00:02:06,667 --> 00:02:11,208 We have a team that makes you really happy. Really, I'm not joking! 14 00:02:11,292 --> 00:02:15,250 Everyone works with great passion, also the construction workers. 15 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:21,042 Today, the main stage was set up in the park beside the lake. 16 00:02:21,667 --> 00:02:22,875 Everyone’s working with passion. 17 00:02:23,500 --> 00:02:27,833 Everyone can see something is happening here and that inspires hope. 18 00:03:22,125 --> 00:03:23,083 Great! 19 00:03:24,583 --> 00:03:27,958 "Jazz makes you think." This is what... 20 00:03:28,833 --> 00:03:30,833 This is what makes Jazz so interesting. 21 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:38,875 People need music that makes them think, not the canned music they keep on hearing. 22 00:03:40,667 --> 00:03:46,583 I feel you are afraid to play this… Generally speaking, not just you… 23 00:03:46,833 --> 00:03:51,000 It’s something people aren’t familiar with, there is a barrier of fear you need to break … 24 00:03:51,375 --> 00:03:52,583 - I constantly break it… 25 00:03:52,583 --> 00:04:01,333 There has to be a brave kind of DJ… who’s going to play this kind of music. 26 00:04:01,917 --> 00:04:03,125 "Who's gonna put this." 27 00:09:28,042 --> 00:09:33,458 "13th of March 2014... live at Azhar Park" 28 00:09:34,292 --> 00:09:39,000 No, no, no. It's "live at Cairo Jazz Festival" and not "live at Azhar Park". 29 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:23,917 Hi, Rumi. 30 00:10:25,167 --> 00:10:28,917 We need 1000 posters in DIN A3. 31 00:10:35,333 --> 00:10:37,292 Finally, what's up? 32 00:10:37,292 --> 00:10:42,625 Okay, good. Fine, fine. Bye-bye. 33 00:11:13,792 --> 00:11:17,542 Okay, mate. No, problem, Bye-bye. 34 00:11:33,500 --> 00:11:39,208 The main thing is... we have to include the Facebook page. 35 00:11:40,875 --> 00:11:45,500 The Facebook icon has to be "Cairo Jazz Fest". 36 00:11:51,333 --> 00:11:54,417 Every artist has to be on the poster. 37 00:12:15,083 --> 00:12:17,625 Mate, you are the boss. 38 00:12:23,583 --> 00:12:26,292 Okay, good, Bye. 39 00:12:32,958 --> 00:12:36,500 But I already sent them the information... What's going on? 40 00:14:26,042 --> 00:14:28,292 We’ve worked together for twelve years now, 41 00:14:28,292 --> 00:14:33,958 he’s been the main piano player in my work 42 00:14:35,250 --> 00:14:41,417 We’ve worked on films, documentaries, TV series. 43 00:14:41,417 --> 00:14:44,792 We’ve worked on many projects together, also my own compositions. 44 00:14:44,792 --> 00:14:50,083 I trust him a lot as a musician, and I trust working with him. 45 00:15:01,542 --> 00:15:03,708 Maybe we can play it like this... 46 00:15:05,333 --> 00:15:08,042 Like... Just like "Roots"... 47 00:15:16,875 --> 00:15:22,042 Amr is a friend, not just a musician I work with. 48 00:15:22,542 --> 00:15:29,750 What makes him special is that he is very widely read. 49 00:15:29,750 --> 00:15:34,208 He knows about many things besides music, and this is very rare for musicians. 50 00:15:34,542 --> 00:15:40,833 because he comes from a well-educated family. 51 00:15:42,958 --> 00:15:49,250 The most important thing is that we know how the melody goes and how the solo goes... 52 00:15:49,667 --> 00:15:51,792 - We have to play the melody one whole time. 53 00:15:52,250 --> 00:15:54,833 We already played it once completely. - And now each will play a solo. 54 00:15:55,375 --> 00:15:59,542 He’s very committed and devoted to his work. He loves it. 55 00:15:59,958 --> 00:16:03,333 He’s actually a pharmacist, he graduated in pharmacology, 56 00:16:03,333 --> 00:16:08,042 but he left it out of his love for music. And the study of music, 57 00:16:08,042 --> 00:16:12,625 which he continued alongside his study of pharmacology. 58 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:18,333 In a country like Egypt or the Arab world in general, when someone finishes studying pharmacology, 59 00:16:18,667 --> 00:16:23,750 just like with medicine, engineering and similar jobs, one would devote himself fully to these jobs. 60 00:16:23,750 --> 00:16:29,333 But out of love for music, he decided to commit himself fully to the music. 61 00:16:29,833 --> 00:16:32,750 So, he is a real musician. 62 00:17:07,250 --> 00:17:11,583 He would always watch me practicing the piano. 63 00:17:11,875 --> 00:17:17,917 He’d come up beside me to take a look: "What’s going on here?“ 64 00:17:20,708 --> 00:17:24,083 So I got him this small piano over there…. 65 00:17:28,583 --> 00:17:36,792 She’s a music teacher who studied at a prestigious music college in Zamalek, in Cairo. 66 00:17:37,250 --> 00:17:40,417 She taught Amr when he was a small child. 67 00:17:40,875 --> 00:17:47,125 The presence of the piano gave him an opportunity 68 00:17:47,625 --> 00:17:52,000 to become proficient in music, 69 00:17:52,458 --> 00:17:53,750 but thanks to whom? 70 00:17:53,750 --> 00:17:59,958 Thanks to his mum here! Because she taught him things, 71 00:18:00,167 --> 00:18:04,792 but he was also prepared, very prepared at a very young age, 72 00:18:05,833 --> 00:18:08,917 when he was three years old for example. 73 00:18:09,333 --> 00:18:13,458 He had memorized the song "There Was A Lady" 74 00:18:13,750 --> 00:18:18,250 this song was very well known back in the days… 75 00:18:18,542 --> 00:18:21,208 The end of the song went something like this: 76 00:18:23,667 --> 00:18:31,417 "All the girls ate the berries, the berries, the berries… and that’s the end of the story." 77 00:18:32,583 --> 00:18:37,708 "How should I play The berries, the berries…? It’s not working!" he said. 78 00:18:38,042 --> 00:18:41,125 Then he lifted the piano in the air...to smash it. 79 00:18:43,875 --> 00:18:46,625 - So, he's always been a difficult character? - Yes, totally! 80 00:18:55,708 --> 00:18:57,625 "That's awful, mum!", he said. 81 00:18:58,833 --> 00:19:02,083 He really said "awful"? - Yes. 82 00:19:02,083 --> 00:19:04,417 "It's totally awful..." 83 00:19:06,167 --> 00:19:09,750 "This is bad...It has to be kicked". 84 00:19:12,208 --> 00:19:14,542 Hi, how are you? - Hi, I'm fine. 85 00:19:14,542 --> 00:19:18,000 Are you nervous? - Yes, it's unfamiliar. 86 00:19:18,292 --> 00:19:20,458 Don't worry, it's also strange for me. 87 00:19:41,375 --> 00:19:42,375 Very nice. 88 00:19:42,708 --> 00:19:46,167 When you are alone, do you like your singing? 89 00:19:47,333 --> 00:19:49,750 - Only when I'm in the shower. - In the shower? 90 00:19:49,750 --> 00:19:53,417 So let's go to the bath here then. 91 00:20:01,167 --> 00:20:07,042 So, I kept teaching him about reading music as fast as possible. 92 00:20:07,750 --> 00:20:15,250 He has to learn reading the music quickly and know about musical timings. 93 00:20:15,375 --> 00:20:16,458 You have to read fast. 94 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:20,750 Don't get lost. Because if you do you'll lose yourself. 95 00:20:21,417 --> 00:20:24,083 He asked: "What should I do?" I said: "I'll show you" 96 00:20:24,583 --> 00:20:28,375 Then I kept on teaching him until he could read the music fluently 97 00:20:28,750 --> 00:20:30,833 Just like the newspaper. 98 00:20:32,042 --> 00:20:38,292 Are you able to read notes and chords to play on sight? 99 00:20:39,167 --> 00:20:41,958 - Actually, yes but I need about half an hour... 100 00:20:42,208 --> 00:20:44,292 Half an hour? ... Half an hour! 101 00:20:45,583 --> 00:20:48,625 Just choose what you want to play. 102 00:20:48,833 --> 00:20:50,917 One, two, three, four... 103 00:20:52,125 --> 00:20:55,667 Are you up for a small rehearsal now? 104 00:20:55,958 --> 00:20:58,792 - Now? - Only if you are up to it... 105 00:21:10,083 --> 00:21:15,042 Back in the days in his school there was a music room. 106 00:21:15,292 --> 00:21:23,625 His class mates went back into the classroom, when he sneaked into the music room... 107 00:21:24,125 --> 00:21:25,542 to practice the piano there. 108 00:21:26,500 --> 00:21:29,667 In the school they were looking for him and reported him missing. 109 00:21:31,125 --> 00:21:33,417 I worked in the neighboring school 110 00:21:33,833 --> 00:21:37,958 and was notified my son was missing. I told them: "This is impossible... 111 00:21:38,750 --> 00:21:42,542 ...he came with me, in the car. It's impossible" 112 00:21:43,500 --> 00:21:47,625 So they looked for him again in the school and finally found him in the music room 113 00:21:47,833 --> 00:21:49,792 playing the piano. 114 00:21:51,375 --> 00:21:53,458 They suspended him for 3 days. 115 00:21:57,500 --> 00:22:00,458 They suspended him for 3 days! - The school was a bit strict... 116 00:22:00,458 --> 00:22:05,708 Because he dared to play the piano without permission. 117 00:22:06,167 --> 00:22:12,083 My fear was he would skip school just to devote himself completely to the music. 118 00:22:12,333 --> 00:22:14,417 So I told him to get his degree 119 00:22:14,958 --> 00:22:18,667 and afterwards, god willing, he could do whatever he wanted. 120 00:22:18,875 --> 00:22:22,333 Most importantly he had to finish his education first. 121 00:22:22,917 --> 00:22:23,750 Don't you agree? 122 00:22:24,458 --> 00:22:29,333 It's great that he creates a nice image of Egypt for the world. 123 00:22:30,583 --> 00:22:33,375 That we also have musicians and artists... 124 00:22:33,625 --> 00:22:36,542 and it's great that something like this exists in Egypt. 125 00:22:37,083 --> 00:22:40,000 Dear god, let everything work out for the festival... 126 00:22:41,792 --> 00:22:44,375 Don't let it rain on the people. 127 00:23:08,250 --> 00:23:12,042 Just remember the melody...how it goes... 128 00:23:15,250 --> 00:23:18,583 Exactly but play it stronger. 129 00:23:55,250 --> 00:24:00,042 Can you play with both hands? Yes? Then let's go! 130 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:15,833 Exactly! Keep it in your head before going on to the second chord. 131 00:24:20,375 --> 00:24:26,000 Do you understand? Prepare yourself for what follows. In music this is called "anticipation". 132 00:24:29,875 --> 00:24:33,917 So it goes like this...let's try it again. 133 00:24:37,833 --> 00:24:39,083 Yes, that's it. 134 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:13,625 - Let's explain the "bridge" to them... 135 00:26:09,625 --> 00:26:11,500 Let the groove work its way... 136 00:26:18,875 --> 00:26:24,875 We use the groove, that's called "prosody", or splitting the rhythm... 137 00:32:00,917 --> 00:32:03,500 We try to support each other. 138 00:32:03,708 --> 00:32:07,542 So that we are able to help create something like the Cairo Jazz Festival. 139 00:32:07,833 --> 00:32:11,208 Everyone contributes his talent. For instance a designer helps for free. 140 00:32:11,500 --> 00:32:14,417 And I also contribute without getting paid... 141 00:32:14,667 --> 00:32:18,833 Or a radio station comes in and covers the festival for free... 142 00:32:19,458 --> 00:32:20,833 This is what we want to do. 143 00:32:20,833 --> 00:32:24,792 But also we would like support from the government and business sector. 144 00:32:24,792 --> 00:32:26,542 So that they consider us. 145 00:32:27,083 --> 00:32:28,833 - Is there any official support from the state? 146 00:32:29,750 --> 00:32:31,125 It's retarded... 147 00:32:31,667 --> 00:32:36,542 Everything is very slow. It goes through too many hands and departments. 148 00:32:36,542 --> 00:32:39,792 Then they tell you to come next week, then the week after and so on... 149 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:45,917 So you really lose motivation and energy in the application process 150 00:32:46,333 --> 00:32:49,583 and decide to just do it yourself on a low budget level. 151 00:32:50,083 --> 00:32:52,958 Sometimes you only get support on the last day of the event 152 00:32:53,167 --> 00:32:59,792 and it's not enough to cover all the costs. You still have to pay for most of it. 153 00:33:00,083 --> 00:33:06,417 That only one person is responsible for such a big event, 4 days and 15 different bands... 154 00:33:06,792 --> 00:33:10,333 that he takes care of everything, is very difficult. 155 00:33:10,583 --> 00:33:20,792 Additionally he manages transportation, accommodation, the stage, what people eat and drink... 156 00:33:21,458 --> 00:33:25,375 He also takes care of festival events at venues outside the Azhar Park. 157 00:33:25,958 --> 00:33:29,375 That's a big responsibility for just one person. 158 00:33:30,250 --> 00:33:33,708 I want to help him because in the last years after the festival 159 00:33:33,917 --> 00:33:36,875 when you asked about him: "Where's Amr?" 160 00:33:37,250 --> 00:33:39,750 "Oh, no! He is in the hospital due to exhaustion!" 161 00:33:39,917 --> 00:33:42,167 In this very intense phase 162 00:33:43,042 --> 00:33:46,042 his blood sugar and pressure are spiking. 163 00:33:46,208 --> 00:33:49,250 We want to support him this year to make it all easier, 164 00:33:49,500 --> 00:33:54,583 so that he can smile on the last day without all the sorrows. 165 00:33:55,375 --> 00:33:57,833 Let's go, let's make a great festival! 166 00:34:03,625 --> 00:34:08,167 The backstage area should be over there in that corner... 167 00:34:09,542 --> 00:34:14,917 No, no, we are not changing the place of the stage! No discussion about that! 168 00:34:16,250 --> 00:34:18,792 So it's made of wood? - Yeah... 169 00:34:19,792 --> 00:34:23,042 Frankly I thought it'd be covered by fabric... 170 00:34:24,667 --> 00:34:27,792 We would like to have all of this... 171 00:35:09,583 --> 00:35:13,250 In my opinion, Amr belongs in the category "enthusiast". 172 00:35:13,250 --> 00:35:15,250 He took on a huge burden 173 00:35:15,250 --> 00:35:19,125 when a few years ago he decided Cairo needed an international jazz festival. 174 00:35:19,667 --> 00:35:24,875 A festival is more than the actual event... 175 00:35:25,292 --> 00:35:29,292 Simply put, festivals are hubs of the cultural landscape 176 00:35:29,500 --> 00:35:34,917 See, it's a place where people come together and things can happen, 177 00:35:34,917 --> 00:35:40,750 where the audience that comes develops and grows beyond generations. 178 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:45,833 And where a platform for culture is created. 179 00:35:46,083 --> 00:35:50,333 It's important to see this sector developing. 180 00:35:50,333 --> 00:35:59,875 A sector which is essential to the forming and consolidating of a civil society here. 181 00:36:00,792 --> 00:36:03,833 The Cairo Jazz Festival has to be seen in this context. 182 00:36:05,083 --> 00:36:09,500 Like other Arab countries, Egypt is an extremely young one. 183 00:36:09,625 --> 00:36:15,292 Approximately 70% of the population is under 30 years old. Which is a tremendous number. 184 00:36:16,667 --> 00:36:20,292 In my opinion, the difference to the past is 185 00:36:20,542 --> 00:36:24,125 that the young generation shows more initiative today, 186 00:36:24,542 --> 00:36:28,792 and is more in the mood to create something independently. 187 00:36:29,125 --> 00:36:31,958 At the same time, you have state-controlled structures 188 00:36:32,375 --> 00:36:38,000 It will be interesting to see if those two sides will find a balance in the future. 189 00:39:09,750 --> 00:39:12,542 I'm 26 years old and a banker. 190 00:39:12,667 --> 00:39:16,208 I do it because Amr loves it. 191 00:39:16,458 --> 00:39:20,750 I want to help create his ideas and visions. 192 00:39:21,292 --> 00:39:25,167 When I see someone showing so much love and passion for something like the Cairo Jazz Festival, 193 00:39:25,458 --> 00:39:28,000 The country benefits from this festival. 194 00:39:28,417 --> 00:39:34,208 It's not Amr, Khaled or Atef who benefit. Not even the crew. 195 00:39:34,417 --> 00:39:36,958 The country does. That something like this takes place in Egypt... 196 00:39:37,583 --> 00:39:39,917 That bands from all over the world are coming to Cairo... 197 00:39:40,125 --> 00:39:43,250 That every year lots of different countries take part in this festival... 198 00:39:43,750 --> 00:39:49,542 ...is a great thing for the country and for the arts. Also for the tourism sector. 199 00:40:12,250 --> 00:40:14,583 Everyone who takes part in this festival, 200 00:40:14,792 --> 00:40:20,083 I'd say 99% of all participants, be it the organizers or the artists, 201 00:40:20,333 --> 00:40:24,417 come because of the spirit and idea rather than of materialistic values. 202 00:40:25,583 --> 00:40:28,125 Every day closer to the festival 203 00:40:30,208 --> 00:40:32,500 of course you feel more tense 204 00:40:32,875 --> 00:40:37,625 and feel time running out, the festival comes closer and closer. 205 00:40:38,417 --> 00:40:42,083 You feel your work of the past 9 or 10 months is revealing itself. 206 00:40:44,458 --> 00:40:46,792 It's a fantastic moment... 207 00:40:47,958 --> 00:40:50,000 when you meet the first arriving band at the airport, 208 00:40:50,875 --> 00:40:54,625 when the first artist shows up and it's clear a festival takes place. 209 00:40:55,125 --> 00:40:59,417 That we have a concert, a real venue with a stage, 210 00:40:59,667 --> 00:41:04,042 the artist is ready to perform and the audience waits for the festival to start. 211 00:41:04,958 --> 00:41:09,000 It's the greatest thing in the world 212 00:41:09,500 --> 00:41:11,875 to see the fruits of your labor. 213 00:41:12,208 --> 00:41:14,542 To see it's a success and not a failure. 214 00:41:15,125 --> 00:41:17,917 This is the best thing to feel in your existence. 215 00:41:54,917 --> 00:42:00,958 There is a discrepancy between official institutions and civil society's activities. 216 00:42:01,458 --> 00:42:03,625 Is it possible to see any changes? 217 00:42:04,250 --> 00:42:10,125 One can only hope but so far there has not been a sign of change. 218 00:42:11,250 --> 00:42:20,875 The bad thing is, people who work on such projects are seen as frauds. 219 00:42:20,875 --> 00:42:25,500 As if they were business men only interested in their own profits, 220 00:42:25,500 --> 00:42:28,167 always claiming a financial loss. 221 00:42:28,833 --> 00:42:32,875 It's a real pity to see this mentality here. 222 00:42:33,417 --> 00:42:43,708 Especially the state-controlled programs always have this skeptical view. 223 00:42:43,958 --> 00:42:48,292 - To which extent is the generational conflict an obstacle for the youth? 224 00:42:48,667 --> 00:42:53,083 That the ruling political class is 50-60 years older? 225 00:42:54,000 --> 00:42:56,542 That's indeed a very strange thing. 226 00:42:56,833 --> 00:43:05,917 I always say, when a new government is put together, 227 00:43:06,125 --> 00:43:11,792 they open the old books from the museum 228 00:43:12,125 --> 00:43:14,167 to use the old figures again. 229 00:43:15,333 --> 00:43:22,708 It's a very strange thing and it does not make sense. 230 00:43:22,708 --> 00:43:25,667 Some time, I hope soon, it will be realized 231 00:43:26,042 --> 00:43:30,875 it does not work anymore and that it's useless. 232 00:43:30,958 --> 00:43:36,250 For the arts pressure should be seen as a challenge 233 00:43:36,917 --> 00:43:39,458 and not as a negative thing. 234 00:43:40,625 --> 00:43:46,292 The more pressure and problems you have, the more you need the arts. 235 00:50:09,167 --> 00:50:12,000 The work of the Egyptian tourism authority and the Ministry of Tourism itself 236 00:50:13,333 --> 00:50:16,792 includes in its strategic planning 237 00:50:17,333 --> 00:50:20,375 to support such festivals 238 00:50:20,958 --> 00:50:24,542 and the purpose of this support 239 00:50:25,000 --> 00:50:27,875 is to show a clear picture 240 00:50:28,167 --> 00:50:32,042 of the Egyptian social situation 241 00:50:32,375 --> 00:50:36,042 and that organizing such a festival 242 00:50:36,458 --> 00:50:41,792 in public and in this case in the Azhar Park, 243 00:50:42,375 --> 00:50:46,917 this means these areas are safe 244 00:50:47,250 --> 00:50:51,125 and many festivals take place there 245 00:50:51,375 --> 00:50:53,917 in which different countries participate, 246 00:50:54,167 --> 00:50:57,917 which shows an image to the whole world 247 00:50:58,292 --> 00:51:02,625 that Egypt has stability and is safe, 248 00:51:02,625 --> 00:51:07,167 and that even though some incidents occur in Egypt, which we admit... 249 00:51:07,167 --> 00:51:10,000 but such incidents occur also everywhere in the world. 250 00:51:10,000 --> 00:51:17,500 The interaction between artists coming from Europe and other Arab countries 251 00:51:17,750 --> 00:51:19,708 with Egyptian artists... 252 00:51:21,250 --> 00:51:25,750 offers a good opportunity for... 253 00:51:27,875 --> 00:51:32,417 cultural exchange between all these countries 254 00:51:32,625 --> 00:51:37,042 which eventually leads to more touristic activity 255 00:51:37,208 --> 00:51:39,375 from other countries to Egypt. 256 00:51:39,417 --> 00:51:43,500 Amr Salah, so far I see, is working on a non-profit level. 257 00:51:43,708 --> 00:51:50,750 I know you are supporting him with around 5000 Euros. 258 00:51:50,833 --> 00:51:56,875 For me, frankly, 5000 is not a lot. 259 00:51:59,125 --> 00:52:04,375 I understand Amr still has to pay all the taxes 260 00:52:07,667 --> 00:52:12,375 Just for the Syndicate of Music he has to pay more than 3000 Euros. 261 00:52:12,625 --> 00:52:17,333 I think there is a certain discrepancy... a gap... 262 00:52:17,542 --> 00:52:24,875 So the official institutions could offer much more support. 263 00:52:26,125 --> 00:52:29,333 What you say is correct. 264 00:52:31,458 --> 00:52:33,042 ... and ... 265 00:52:33,042 --> 00:52:35,917 ... and I think that we can ... 266 00:52:36,042 --> 00:52:37,667 ... tomorrow ... 267 00:52:38,542 --> 00:52:41,792 possibly invite Mr. Amr Salah again 268 00:52:42,250 --> 00:52:43,833 and have another talk 269 00:52:44,083 --> 00:52:47,500 and see if there are any other demands 270 00:52:47,708 --> 00:52:51,625 which can be satisfied by the tourism authority and the ministry of tourism. 271 00:52:52,042 --> 00:52:54,292 We don't have a problem with that. 272 00:52:55,667 --> 00:53:03,000 Because, as I already said, this is a very important issue. 273 00:53:03,792 --> 00:53:07,125 Therefore I will ask... 274 00:53:07,333 --> 00:53:08,958 ... tomorrow ... 275 00:53:09,458 --> 00:53:15,042 to set an appointment here in the ministry 276 00:53:15,167 --> 00:53:18,750 to see what can be done for the festival. 277 00:53:49,667 --> 00:53:54,167 When it's about alternative music we always try to let people know. 278 00:53:54,500 --> 00:53:56,458 The idea is not only to be a rehearsal studio... 279 00:53:56,583 --> 00:54:02,625 We started to also be a recording studio since we had all the equipment necessary. 280 00:54:03,333 --> 00:54:05,708 We also started with some bands 281 00:54:06,208 --> 00:54:10,875 to support them and offer special discounts and packages. 282 00:54:11,083 --> 00:54:15,292 And we try to organize workshops so that people can learn what music is all about. 283 00:54:15,292 --> 00:54:18,208 For example a guitar player who does not know a lot about his instrument. 284 00:54:18,542 --> 00:54:24,583 So we had some workshops with the Cairo Jazz Festival which brought in foreign artists. 285 00:54:25,542 --> 00:54:29,833 So we had workshops with really great people. Everyone was really happy about it. 286 00:56:23,292 --> 00:56:27,917 Cairo's population is about 20-25 million people, 287 00:56:28,083 --> 00:56:33,625 but opportunities and venues for young musicians are very rare. I'm not sure why. 288 00:56:34,250 --> 00:56:38,083 I don't know either. The fact is, there's nothing. 289 00:56:38,083 --> 00:56:41,792 The government only focuses on things that do not jeopardize their plans. 290 00:56:42,083 --> 00:56:46,292 They want to tranquilize people, to keep them quiet. 291 00:56:46,542 --> 00:56:49,125 They want to stabilize the country. That's the only thing they are thinking about. 292 00:56:49,458 --> 00:56:52,500 Obviously the last thing they consider is music. 293 00:56:53,750 --> 00:56:57,292 This is true for many things, not just music but arts in general. 294 00:56:57,625 --> 00:57:01,917 Every politician who takes over only thinks about his own position. 295 00:57:02,042 --> 00:57:07,333 The only important thing is public appearance at the international film festival or the opera. 296 00:57:07,583 --> 00:57:09,208 They do not care about the youth. 297 00:57:09,208 --> 00:57:13,958 We would love to see the government providing opportunities and spaces for young people to learn. 298 00:57:14,417 --> 00:57:18,500 So that they can do what they love to do and learn. 299 00:57:19,250 --> 00:57:23,625 Because there's no sense to learn an instrument without being able to perform publicly. 300 00:57:24,000 --> 00:57:26,583 We would love to have more of such places! 301 00:58:09,875 --> 00:58:11,875 I'm really sorry... - No worries! 302 00:58:11,875 --> 00:58:15,583 I was held up at Azhar Park. - We were also stuck in traffic. 303 00:58:15,583 --> 00:58:16,833 Is Amir coming or not? 304 00:58:17,458 --> 00:58:17,875 - He's coming. 305 00:58:18,875 --> 00:58:20,667 So, he's coming? Okay! 306 00:58:20,917 --> 00:58:22,292 Did you finish the booklet? 307 00:58:23,125 --> 00:58:28,625 It's not called "Shazz" festival but "Jazz" festival. 308 00:58:29,333 --> 00:58:31,333 Funny how people come up with something like that. 309 00:58:32,042 --> 00:58:34,458 When someone is late, everything still has to start as planned. 310 00:58:34,958 --> 00:58:37,542 The priority is that everything continues as planned. 311 00:58:39,208 --> 00:58:43,208 The number one priority is that everything starts as planned whatever happens. 312 00:58:43,583 --> 00:58:45,917 Did you talk to Said about the problem? 313 00:58:45,917 --> 00:58:47,125 - No, he has no clue. 314 00:58:47,667 --> 00:58:48,750 So there is nobody to fix this? 315 00:58:49,500 --> 00:58:51,625 No, he doesn't know at all. 316 01:00:27,125 --> 01:00:35,958 Building such a festival in Cairo is impressive and has to be praised. 317 01:00:35,958 --> 01:00:40,208 Cairo is special because it's so extreme. 318 01:00:40,208 --> 01:00:44,083 It's a very mixed crowd, a very diverse audience. 319 01:00:44,083 --> 01:00:47,708 I felt a very strong and youthful energy here. 320 01:00:47,708 --> 01:00:53,208 In Germany the Jazz audience became rather old and the young ones don't really find a way in. 321 01:00:53,417 --> 01:00:58,000 I have the feeling, especially in Cairo, it's open for all. 322 01:02:29,833 --> 01:02:32,417 In the Arab world Jazz festivals are rare. 323 01:02:32,625 --> 01:02:37,542 You can say Jazz is sophisticated music, 324 01:02:37,917 --> 01:02:44,708 a language which brings everything together, a universal language of some kind. 325 01:02:44,917 --> 01:02:46,958 Jazz combines all languages. 326 01:03:05,208 --> 01:03:09,208 I call this instrument "RayJam" 327 01:03:09,792 --> 01:03:15,083 It's a combination of the oud and electric guitar, as you can see. 328 01:03:15,417 --> 01:03:17,083 I designed it myself. 329 01:03:17,417 --> 01:03:23,125 The oud is on top because that's how you play it. 330 01:03:23,583 --> 01:03:29,833 And the electric guitar is below. And those positions are essential. 331 01:03:45,375 --> 01:03:50,125 On top there is the soul of the Orient. And below the soul of the Occident. 332 01:03:50,500 --> 01:03:54,125 This creation happened by accident you could say. 333 01:03:54,583 --> 01:03:58,167 I started playing the oud at a very young age, but stopped at 15 334 01:03:58,417 --> 01:04:00,625 to devote myself completely to electric guitar and Jazz. 335 01:04:00,875 --> 01:04:04,333 10 years later I got back to the oud and I noticed I did not forget how to play it. 336 01:04:04,333 --> 01:04:05,625 And that's how it started... 337 01:04:41,417 --> 01:04:44,167 As you wish... - No, no! This is really unacceptable! 338 01:04:44,167 --> 01:04:47,833 After all the intense work we've done... 339 01:04:48,208 --> 01:04:53,542 I'm very sorry, if other people are not on time, I have to focus on it myself. 340 01:04:53,542 --> 01:04:55,542 It's unacceptable hearing this from you, 341 01:04:55,792 --> 01:04:58,917 especially when you have no idea about lots of technical aspects. 342 01:04:59,083 --> 01:05:02,250 When you say there is no production manager, that means I do not work at all. 343 01:05:02,875 --> 01:05:07,583 - I did not get this impression of you... I did not see it. 344 01:05:07,750 --> 01:05:11,292 If I don't come tomorrow and you see what is missing, then you will understand. 345 01:05:17,750 --> 01:05:23,958 Is there nobody who can fill in? Who can take over? 346 01:05:29,958 --> 01:05:31,042 Do you have anything to say? 347 01:05:31,750 --> 01:05:32,792 No, no - go on. 348 01:08:40,167 --> 01:08:43,625 From the top! Do you know the melody? 349 01:08:44,875 --> 01:08:45,625 Good! 350 01:10:28,708 --> 01:10:31,333 Why is this festival important for Egypt? 351 01:10:31,583 --> 01:10:37,292 The importance for Egypt is obvious, especially in this phase the country is going through. 352 01:10:37,292 --> 01:10:41,000 It's a proof of vitality and life itself. 353 01:10:41,417 --> 01:10:47,625 It's a proof of the lust for life, to continue life. 354 01:10:48,292 --> 01:10:57,667 It's proof of the Egyptian youth being alive. It's excellent proof of cultural life. 355 01:10:58,167 --> 01:11:01,625 In my opinion, music helps in every way. 356 01:11:02,333 --> 01:11:05,375 I think one should not think too much about music 357 01:11:05,583 --> 01:11:10,375 because making music is already a political statement. 358 01:11:10,917 --> 01:11:18,167 Let's not make it too complicated. Don't think too much about your role as an artist, 359 01:11:18,167 --> 01:11:21,833 or what you have to say, because I'm not sitting in a parliament. 360 01:11:22,375 --> 01:11:26,125 I make music and music already tells a message 361 01:11:26,375 --> 01:11:29,333 and transports pleasure and well-being. 362 01:11:30,292 --> 01:11:34,500 When people come to listen to a concert 363 01:11:34,708 --> 01:11:38,292 and enjoy themselves, dance, sweat... and there are also emotions 364 01:11:38,583 --> 01:11:40,542 and furthermore there is a message. 365 01:12:01,042 --> 01:12:06,875 The big problem: There is no real support for artists in Egypt. Is it similar in Morocco? 366 01:12:07,667 --> 01:12:08,250 It's the same. 367 01:12:09,042 --> 01:12:15,542 Every artist has to take care of himself. 368 01:12:16,292 --> 01:12:23,708 Everyone is doing everything on their own. There are no big production opportunities. 369 01:12:24,667 --> 01:12:32,792 There is a nearly non-existent market for music. 370 01:12:33,333 --> 01:12:37,167 Everyone is fighting on their own to make something happen. 371 01:12:38,083 --> 01:12:44,833 That's why we are happy to meet you here. It's no coincidence to meet you here in Cairo. 372 01:12:44,833 --> 01:12:47,667 You are from Berlin 373 01:12:47,875 --> 01:12:51,208 and make a movie about Amr Salah and us and what's happening here. 374 01:12:51,208 --> 01:12:58,208 Ultimately, it's the best thing to know that there are fellow artists who want to 375 01:12:58,208 --> 01:13:01,417 make some noise to talk about all of us. 376 01:13:02,000 --> 01:13:03,292 That's encouraging. 377 01:13:43,417 --> 01:13:47,583 I think if there were no obstacles for the youth, 378 01:13:47,958 --> 01:13:49,625 no contradictions 379 01:13:49,625 --> 01:13:52,917 there would be no lust for life and vitality. 380 01:13:53,458 --> 01:13:56,792 I think when there is a small conflict or when there are problems 381 01:13:57,083 --> 01:14:00,542 you feel alive and strong enough to say: "No, I don't agree!" 382 01:14:00,583 --> 01:14:05,000 And when you are able to say, "No, I don't agree!" then you are also able to say, "No, I'm not fine!" 383 01:14:05,417 --> 01:14:08,625 And when you can say you are not fine, it expresses a lot of emotion. 384 01:14:08,833 --> 01:14:13,375 Somehow everything happening to the Arab youth at the moment can be seen in a positive way. 385 01:14:13,375 --> 01:14:18,458 I see it in a more positive way. This is the time we have to live through, 386 01:14:18,792 --> 01:14:21,542 to live it in a better way. And to observe it more closely. 387 01:14:21,542 --> 01:14:25,625 Just like you do it or we do it with music. 388 01:14:26,458 --> 01:14:29,458 I prefer to see it as an opportunity. Of course it's very difficult... 389 01:14:29,625 --> 01:14:32,917 of course it's complicated, but it's always complicated and difficult anyway. 390 01:14:33,083 --> 01:14:36,333 Even without all this. So, it's a good thing after all. 391 01:18:28,542 --> 01:18:31,042 JAZZ! 392 01:18:46,750 --> 01:18:47,750 What's mum saying? 393 01:18:48,958 --> 01:18:50,167 Mum is very happy! 394 01:19:18,500 --> 01:19:23,917 The hope lays with the public, it lays with the interaction of society with this event 395 01:19:25,292 --> 01:19:26,833 This is the ultimate hope. 396 01:19:27,417 --> 01:19:30,500 This is what we are actually trying to do. 397 01:19:30,500 --> 01:19:35,625 We are trying to get closer to the people, to invite them to participate in this event.