Random Thoughts On Waleed Hourani

There is a case to be made that Chopin was the first rock star. His music had broad appeal, he was paid well to perform his compositions and he had a way with the ladies. The same rock star analogy could be made for Stephen Foster and Scott Joplin.

If you buy this comparison then you'll concur there's a place for a classical piano player on a rock and roll website. Especially, when the piano player infuses his work with the same rhythmic and melodic elements you might hear from Dave Matthews or Xavier Rudd.

That pianist is Waleed Hourani. New York-born, Lebanon-raised, Eastern European-educated, Hourani was a child prodigy who has founght his way through considerable handicap to produce some remarkable music. (He suffered debilitating seizures for many years until successful brain surgery in the 1980's).

What makes Hourani unique is the humor he infuses into his music, taking an already comical tune like The Entertainer and making it that much more fanciful by delivering it in the key of Arabic jazz.

There's no easily accessible music or video to be heard, but you can listen to a recent interview with Hourani from PRI by clicking here.