From the Valley of the Kings to Royal Albert Hall: The Egyptian Jazz Projekt revives the Golden Age of 1950s Egyptian Cinema for a New Generation.
CAIRO, Egypt in a cultural landscape often divided between Egyptian tradition and Western influence, the Egyptian Jazz Projekt has emerged as a vital bridge between the two. Founded by vocalist Ahmed Harfoush, the project has captured international attention by reimagining the Great Egyptian Songbook, the classic iconic songs of Abdel Halim Hafez, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Farid Elatrash and Mohamed Fawzy through the sophisticated lens of American Jazz.
What began as a personal experiment in London has evolved into a global cultural mission. With a new album under construction and an international tour slated for 2026 including stops in Bangkok, Amman, Sarajevo and Montreal, the project aims at providing more than entertainment; it seeks to reintroduce Egypt’s musical heritage to the new generation with "short attention spans" but with a hunger for authenticity.
A Duality of Identity
The project’s unique sound is deeply rooted in Harfoush’s own bicultural upbringing. Raised in the United States until age 11, his musical education was a simultaneous immersion in two distinct worlds, the US and Egypt.
“I grew up in a house where my father spoke to me in English and my mother spoke to me in Egyptian” Harfoush explains. “American Jazz was just a part of the air I breathed, but so was Abdel Halim. My mom would play his songs on the radio and that mix of worlds made me who I am.”
This duality followed him into his professional life. Before taking the stage, Harfoush spent years as an Egyptologist working in the Valley of the Kings and with the University of Chicago mission in Luxor, followed by a six-year tenure at the United Nations in Cairo. However, the pull of music proved stronger than the stability of a diplomatic/office career. In 2007, he resigned to pursue music full-time, a decision he calls the "scariest of his life." with the uncertainty of what is to come.
Reviving Legacy Without Altering It
The core insight driving the Egyptian Jazz Projekt is that heritage must evolve to perpetually survive. By fusing 1950s Egyptian melodies with an American jazz sound, the project highlights the universal emotional core of Cairo’s Golden Age. However, the founder notes that this fusion requires a delicate hand.
“There is a very fine line between making it right and ruining it,” Harfoush says. “You must respect the diction, the story, and the emotion. I wanted to take those Golden Age classics and arrange them in jazz style without losing their soul and authenticity.”
This careful curation has paid off. The project made history by becoming the first Egyptian act to perform at London’s Royal Albert Hall since Abdel Halim Hafez himself performed there 50 years prior a symbolic passing of the torch that Harfoush describes as "emotional and heavy."
Music Beyond Politics
Beyond the prestigious venues, the project has demonstrated the soft power of Egyptian culture in unexpected places. During a performance in Potsdam, Germany, Harfoush witnessed the project’s impact on displaced communities.
“A friend asked me to perform for a group of Syrian refugees. When I started singing, I saw them crying not out of sadness, but out of a sheer release of emotion and nostalgia for their homeland” he recalls. “At that moment, there was no politics, no agenda; just music connecting people to a home they miss.”
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Vision
As the project prepares for its 2026 Egyptian embassy tour, the mission remains focused on storytelling. In an era of rapid digital consumption, the Egyptian Jazz Projekt offers a "future perspective with a reference to the past," proving that a 3-minute jazz arrangement can be a potent educational tool.
“I want the younger generation to hear a jazz version of a classic and realize how cool their history is,” says Harfoush. “I’m an entertainer who loves storytelling, trying to build a bridge between where we came from and where we are going.”
