Gilgamesh is a band that performs an amazing variety of standard jazz covers; big band hits from the 30s 40s and 50s and also the good old Blues. The band is experienced in arranging the perfect entertainment for private events, hotels and venues, engagements, weddings, corporate events and valentine nights.
RE: Gilgamesh…Why did you choose this name? What’s its origin? And have you changed the band’s name before?
Hesham Blues: Hatem El Nemr chose it…Gilgamesh is a hero of Babylonian and Sumerian epic poems and no, we didn’t change it
since our formation in 2003.
RE: 7 years since your formation…So, let’s start: How did you form your band?
Hatem started the band in 2003 with some members. The band’s members changed a lot. And all of them left the
band except Hatem, who thought of reforming the band in 2006 with me, and then Ismael joined us in 2008. Later, all
of the other members joined us. When they first started, it was an instrumental band; mainly they were playing Latin
jazz. Now we have totally changed the color, and we are now playing old American jazz and blues.
RE: Which Bands or musicians influenced you the most?
Hesham Blues: Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, and Nat King Cole
RE: The Bibliotheca summer music festival, can you please tell me about it?
Hesham Blues: Well, it was on 17th of July 2010. Our band won everything! Best singer, best pianist, best band, best trumpet player,best bassist, best trombone player, and finally best drummer.
RE: With that amount of effort, any other live performance experience have you had?
Hesham Blues: Yeah, we had a live concert in 2008 at El Sawy Cultural Wheel. But in 2010, we had two live concerts in 14th August and 1st of September. The number of fans was increasing every concert. We will have a live concert soon in October 2010.
RE: Any originals?
Hesham Blues: Yeah, we are preparing for an album next year, and we already have some originals but we haven’t played them live
before. One of them is called “I love”; it’s a swing jazz song.
RE: What about your covered songs?
Hesham Blues:
Hit the road jack – Ray Charles
Summer time – Louis Armstrong
When the Saints Go Marching In – Louis Armstrong
Georgia on my Mind – Ray Charles
Hoochie Coochie Man – Muddy Waters
I feel good – James Brown
RE: Practice makes perfect, do you have a set time each week in which you practice?
Hesham Blues: Yeah, each month we should at least have a rehearsal, and if we have a number of concerts in a short time so we
have more than a rehearsal of course.
RE: Of course everyone plays jazz keeps thinking of the somehow sleepy jazz scene in Egypt. Any comments?
Hesham Blues: Of course yes! I think that everyone who plays an odious music by the Egyptians is facing a lot of difficulties. But in
the same time, it’s the musician’s fault not the audience’s one, as a good musician should attract audience by his
awesome performance on stage, thinking of enjoying them regardless of their consideration.
RE: Any last words?
Hesham Blues: Thanks a lot for your concern