Yehya Khalil, 79, will play at the Cairo Opera House’s small hall on Wednesday 21 September, two days before he meets his Alexandrian fans at the Alexandria Opera House on Friday 23 September.

He is expected to perform a selection of his favourite songs, including Crichendo, Hakawey El-Ahawy and Donia as well as some covers of Arabic and Western standards.

Earlier this month, Khalil performed in Chicago, Illinois on 7 September at the Epiphany Center for the Arts.

One of the pioneers of the jazz movement in Egypt, dubbed King of Jazz, Khalil received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Opera, and has played with many well-known international musicians, including Jimi Hendrix, Ginger Baker, Jeff Bush and Eric Clapton, before returning to Egypt.

In 2018, Khalil received the Opera House-bestowed Lifetime Achievement Award for his "outstanding contribution to enriching musical life in Egypt."

Programme:

First Concert (Cairo)
Wednesday 21 September at 8pm
Cairo Opera House, Small Hall

Second Concert (Alexandria)
Friday 23 September at 8pm
Alexandria Opera House, Sayed Darwish Theatre