“Oriental Roots”, the title of Jimmy Oihid’s latest opus, says plenty about his musical intentions. An explosive mix of chaâbi, gnawa, Arab-Andalusian, R&B, funk and reggae.
Jimmy Oihid was born at Blida, in Algeria, at a time the country was still under French domination. He crossed the Mediterranean at age 6 to engage in his first fight, a fight against illness. He took advantage of this change to work on his voice and on his ear, listening to James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Otis Redding, Jacques Brel, Edith Piaf, and others. This was the period that gave rise to his velvety voice and his appetite for a broad palette of musical styles.
Since becoming a professional, he has demonstrated influences ranging from chaâbi to Gnawa, Arab-Andalusian, rhythm and blues, rock, funk, and reggae – a unique and explosive blend! Singing in Arabic, French and “English yogurt”, Jimmy Oihid expresses love, hope and solidarity.
And when Jimmy sings, he believes what he is saying and doing, refusing obstinately to slip into a cheb, the costume that some have long wanted him to wear owing to the raï wave that swept France in the 1990s. Instead, he made a point of forging a different identity, pushing influences such as reggae and funk to the fore, continuing to work, and seeking new sounds and new rhythms.
His first album, Vivre libre, came out in 1990, followed by Salam Alikoum in 1992, One 2 Free in 1995, Salam Alikoum Algérie in 1998, Freedom in 2001 and. finally, Oriental Roots in 2007.
During these years, Jimmy Oihid often went to Jamaica to work with the Wailers, leaving indelible reggae traces in his music. A perfect blend of oriental and roots influences, a bridge between the Maghreb and Jamaica (two countries linked by the warm voice of this extraordinary crooner), Oriental Roots was self-produced. “I had plenty of discussions with the people running record companies before bringing it out,” Jimmy says. “Nothing was happening, and I decided not to sign with anyone. For 25 years, I had been wasting time with them.” He is not in the habit of mincing words, and he is careful with compliments. “Recording with the Wailers was like going into a studio with a myth.” It did light up his eyes and give him a powerful desire to continue recording and going on stage.
Learn more about Jimmy Oihid at
http://www.myspace.com/jimmyoihid
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Photos by
HeatherLWeimer.Com
