Berber oud player and composer Driss El Maloumi was born May 25, 1970, in Morocco. He grew up in the agadir area of southern Morocco. El Maloumi has gained recognition for his solo and trio performances, his collaboration with Spanish musician and composer Jordi Savall, and his involvement in the group 3MA, consisting of three esteemed African string instrumentalists.
El Maloumi received accolades for his oud skills in the 1990s, including the Honorary Prize from the National Conservatory of Music in Rabat. Alongside his musical pursuits, he directs the conservatory of music in his hometown of Agadir. He studied both Western and Arabic classical music, and completed his academic studies with a thesis exploring the philosophical approach to musical expression in artistic discourse.
Jordi Savall has invited El Maloumi to represent Middle Eastern musical traditions through his oud playing in various projects exploring the interplay between Europe and the Mediterranean. El Maloumi’s solo performances often feature his original compositions, as well as Berber folk tunes. He has collaborated with a diverse array of international musicians, spanning genres from jazz to Indian music to the historical music of Al-Andalus. He also performs with his own trio, comprising two percussionists from Agadir, and has appeared at prestigious venues such as the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris.
Since 2008, El Maloumi has been a member of world music trio 3MA, alongside kora player Ballake Sissoko from Mali and valiha player Rajery from Madagascar. Together, they create contemporary compositions, earning them critical acclaim and accolades. They have also contributed to The Routes of Slavery project, which explores the history of the slave trade from Africa, under the artistic direction of Jordi Savall. El Maloumi’s contributions to the world of music continue to resonate with audiences around the world.
Discography:
Solo
Maroc: L’âme Dansée (Buda Records, 2003)
Makan (Contre-jour, 2013)
Aswat (Contre-Jour / Zig Zag World, 2023)
With Jordi Savall’s Hesperion XXI
Orient — Occident, 1200-1700 (Alia Vox, 2006)
The Routes of Slavery (Alia Vox, 2016)
With 3MA
3MA (2008)
Anarouz (Mad Minute Music/Six Degrees, 2017)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.