National Geographic Music (National Geographic)

Raï pioneer Maurice El Médioni was born into a Sephardic Jewish family in Oran, Algeria, where he became a master of the eclectic "Oriental" piano style. Now living in France, El Médioni has become a mentor and cult figure to the younger generation of raï superstars, from Cheb Mami to Khaled—who featured Médioni as a guest on his last studio album. Cuban-American percussionist Roberto Rodriguez has already played with everyone from Miami Sound machine and Chachao, to Lester Bowie and John Zorn. On invitation of the Pirhana Musik label they met in New York for a "Descarga Oriental"—or Oriental jam session— reconnecting both Cuba and Algerian music's Andalusian roots. An instant classic, outstanding and full of surprises.

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