Ami Taf Ra The Prophet and The Madman

Ami Taf Ra is an LA-based artist of North African heritage who has a long held passion for musical and cultural fusion. ‘The Prophet and the Madman’ — is a musical interpretation of the timeless writings of Lebanese-American writer, poet and visual artist Khalil Gibran. Heralded for her seamless fusion of Arabic musical traditions like Moroccan gnawa with jazz and gospel, the album is beautifully cinematic and epic in scope. Composed, produced and arranged by Ami Taf Ra and legendary saxophonist, composer and frequent collaborator Kamasi Washington, the album features contributions from a stellar cast of musicians including: Ryan Porter, Miles Mosley, Brandon Coleman, Tony Austin, Cameron Graves, Ronald Bruner Jr., Allakoi Peete, Kahlil Cummings and more. A nexus for experimental sound, Brainfeeder (the label owned by LA icon Flying Lotus) is an apt home for Ami Taf Ra’s artistry, rooted in boundary-pushing cultural fusion and a rich legacy of iconic Arabic vocalists like Abdel Halim Hafez, Umm Kulthum, Warda, Asmahan, and Fairuz. Kamasi’s musical contribution infuses a rich lineage of spiritual jazz, afrocentric philosophy, and orchestral grandiosity.