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BIOGRAPHY OF KAMEL LABBACI

Biography

Auteur-Compositeur

Sociétaire de la SACEM

Among Maghrebi musicians, he stands out as an exceptional figure. A recognised flute virtuoso, Kamel Labbaci is just as talented on guitar, oud (lute) and violin. His multi-instrumentalist talents are much vaunted in Parisian World Music circles where he is in constant demand as an accompanist. Few indeed are the singers whose address books do not include his phone number!

 Born in 1962, Kamel Labbaci's passion for music was nurtured in the heart of his native town of Chetaïbi (Herbillon), near Annaba (Bône). Under his father's tutelage, music-making was an important part of everyday life from Kamel's early childhood. He quickly developed a taste for malouf and playing the flute. In 1974, Kamel began studying with Hacène Bouchema who taught him to read music and introduced him to stringed instruments.  

Well-trained and versed in the malouf tradition, the young musician was soon ready to play with the medium's finest exponents. 

In 1985, he crossed the Mediterranean to pursue postgraduate studies and his personal musical development. 

On a trip to Spain in 1990, Kamel met the master guitarist, Paco de Lucia. During a memorable session, they together improvised on several malouf pieces. 

Early in 1994, Kamel was invited to play guitar in a duo with the famed Algerian violinist, Mohamed Mokhtari, at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris.  

That same year, he had the pleasure of accompanying the great Salim Hallali, singer and composer of the finest masterpieces in the Judeo-Arabic repertory.

From 1995 to 1999, Kamel continued to exercise his art, playing at Muslim festivals, weddings, circumcisions, birthdays, etc. Popular singers regularly called on his many musical talents, on stage and in the recording studio. He also recorded a number of solo flute sequences for an Al Jazeera TV documentary about the mosques of the Maghreb. 

Between 1999 and 2001, Kamel participated in the recording of of several compilation albums with Nassima. He also joined T. Bestandji's Foundouk ensemble and played at the Printemps de Bourges festival. During this period, he began working with the internationally-known singer, Enrico Macias. 

In October of 2004, Kamel's flute playing was once again highlighted in the musical Gladiateur, composed by Maxime Leforestier. 

Kamel was invited to become leader of the Ensemble Arabo-Andalou, playing with Enrico Macias at the Théâtre des Champs Elysées in September 2005. Thereafter, he joined Macias' regular orchestra as violinist, appearing at the Olympia and on a world tour in 2006. 

Kamel's first compilation album, Sourires d'Algérie, was released at the end of 2006 and remained for more than a year one of the best-selling records in its category. 

Along with Nouredinne Aliane, and aided by Farid Benssarsa, Kamel formed Meznoum, an Arabo-Andalou ensemble which performs in cultural centres and universities. 

Contacted in 2007 by film and TV composer René Marc Bini, Kamel recorded a number of pieces for documentaries, feature films and TV series.

Inventive and completely at ease in many musical genres, Kamel Labbaci is truly a musician's musician.

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