Fantazia

Fantazia play a breathtakingly rootsy blend of gnawa, chaabi and dance, which draws on the vibrant rhythms and rich musical tradition of North Africa. Built around the original compositions of Algerian oud player Yazid Fentazi, Fantazia's irresistible grooves create a sizzling party atmosphere that soon has any audience on its feet and dancing.

Formed in the late '90s, Fantazia emerged from multicultural Hackney, N.E. London, with their unique blend of North African and other influences, rapidly establishing themselves as a distinctive voice on the British music scene. Their self-produced debut CD The Lost Place (2000) enhanced their reputation, receiving airplay throughout Europe, while the power of their live performances spread the word further in the UK.

Fantazia's Spring 2003 UK tour, supported by The Arts Council of England, saw the band expanding into an even more exciting nine-piece unit: a multicultural band of musicians from Algeria and the UK, with soaring vocals, oud, sax, flute, violin, trumpet, keyboards, derbouka, bass and drums. Yazid Fentazi's compositions for this expanded line-up are featured on their second CD Mul Sheshe due for release in 2005. —Courtesy Calabash Music