From improvisations with Arabic sound to rumba in an innovative, original and contemporary style and flamenco mixed with jazz and Andalusian music—perfumes, passion and energy—this is the music of Almoraima, the multi-ethnic group from Salento, South Italy.
Almoraima was born in 2007 thanks to an encounter between flamenco guitarist Massi Almoraima and musicians from other musical cultures and different regions of the world. The Almoraima are characterized by their original sound that is inspired by the gipsy tradition and its musical connections developed in Andalusia.
They have recorded 5 albums so far: Amor gitano, released in summer 2010, features a fusion of Arabic and oriental music by Anima Mundi from Otranto. It consists of 9 musical pieces where characteristically Arabic rhythms combine with Oriental and modern flamenco.
Their second album Banjara, released in 2013 and published by Anima Mundi supported by Puglia Sound, instead is a fusion of the gipsy andalusian style with Arabic music and sounds from the Middle East.
Their latest rceord Flamenco fusion was released in October 2014 in India. It was recorded at Pushkar in collaboration with Banarsi Babu and is a fusion of flamenco music and Rajasthani folk music, and Cafè cantante released in 2015 and published by Anima Mundi .
Lusìa released in july 2019 is “A fiery and sensual mosaic of sounds, with an intense flamenco flavour, that brushes latin scentsand jazzy notes with lyrical lightness. Fresh and sophisticated in its composition, this musical landscape entwines rhythms and tunes like two souls in a tango embrace”.
As a group, the Almoraima have participated in important ethnic music events. In 2010, they performed at the innauguration of the Pablo Picasso exhibition in the Aragonese Castle of Otranto. In October 2012, they participated in the Nomad Dance Fest along with dancers like Lucia Zahara, Maria Strova and Carolina Fonseca. In October 2013, Banjara was selected for the Fahrenheit week, a cultural programme on Rai Stereo 3 and the group participated in the Orient Festival in Milan and Carrara, Italy. In December 2013, Almoraima returned to India for a new tour called Roots of Gipsys and presented a videoclip “Banjara”. The Almoraima also participated in the Mediterranean Radio Festival in Creta and the Napa festival in Athens and Cipro, followed by performances in Canada and the United States and Aguascalientes in Mexico. After the successful tour of Feria De San Marcos in April 2015, they presented their three albums and a preview of Cafe Cantante at Havana, Cuba in June 2015, at Istanbul,Mumbai,Goa and Jaipur in october 2015,and again Mexico ,Cuba and Capo Vert in 2016 ,Hong kong, Seoul,Fukuoka e Kagoshima in 2017 and Tokyo, Kyoto , Miyazu ,Obu , Osaka Las Palmas, Fez, Rabat , Marrakesh and Hong kong in september – dicember2018.
In 2019 introduce the new record Lusìa at the Mediterranean Radio Festival Of Sitia in Greece, at the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival in Finland , and also in Italy , Switzerland, Canaria Islands and Morocco.