Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the warm bosom of Cairo Jazz Club is so delightful, and since there's no better place to go, let us go, let us go, let us go - to Cairo Jazz Club. Yes, the festive season is well and truly under way and though there's sure to be plenty to look forward to for Christmas and New Year's Eve, CJC has plenty to warm you up.

BOOGIE NIGHT FT. RAMY DJUNKIE & ZAJAZZA (Wednesday 6th)

Captained by the Boogie Monster, Ramy DJunkie, Boogie Night has been the party boat of the endless voyage that is Cairo Jazz Club for as long as we can remember. This time round, though, Ramy has a co-captain for this month’s trip to funky town. The man in question is one Zajazza – a French turntabliest, who has a knack for funk, hip-hop and Afrobeat – so expect things to get hot and heavy.

RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME & SOTUSURA (Wednesday 13)

“Take an old genre of music, sample and flip it into dancefloor-ready beats, from hip-hop to house." That’s the M.O. of Austrian group, Restless Leg Syndrome. Made u of a DJ/producer and turntableists, RLS are as unique a band as you’re likely to see this month in Cairo – and they’re in good company on the night, with Palestinian hip-hop DJ, Sotusura, who has become a popular fixture in Cairo over the last year.

MAURICE LOUCA & POREST (Thursday 14)

Over the last few years, as Cairo has begun it’s ears more to the experimental, Maurice Louca has carved out a niche for himself as one of the most unique music-makers around, thanks to his equally unique fusion of psychedelia and shaabi music. Louca is set to take to the CJC stage on a night that sees yet another foreign import perform, this time in the form of Porest. The Iraqi-American act uses samples creatively as a backdrop for lyrics that are as satirical as they are politically charged – a combo that Egyptian music fans seem to love.

THE RIFF BAND CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (Sunday 17)

Christmas comes early for The Jazz thanks to enduring jazz cover group, The Riff Band. Headed by Cairo’s premier jazz-man, Ahmed Harfoush, The Riff Band have been crooning across Egypt since 2002 and brings together some of the most talented musicians in the country. Throw in a heavy dose of the Christmas spirit and you have a feverishly festive evening.

WHO KILLED BRUCE LEE (Thursday 21)

Having performed for the first time at Cairo Jazz Club in January of this year, it was only a matter of time before Who Killed Bruce Lee made their way back. Based in Germany, the Lebanese foursome proudly fly the flag of their homeland’s knack for producing music from the depths of left-field – so expect a particularly rowdy night from a group who have taken elements of traditional rock and batter them into elements of electro-punk.

CHRISTMAS EVENT FT. THE ONE FOUR FIVE (Sunday 24)

Though CJC’s near-legendary Christmas eve/day double parties have yet to be blessed with names, the entertainment I cocked, locked and ready roll. First up on Christmas eve is a band who you might consider are new to the scene; The One Four Five might still have some miles to make-up on the gig circuit as a name, but but with the likes of Hesham Galal, George Aboutar and Nour Ashour part of the group, this is one not to miss.

CHRISTMAS EVENT FT. MARC WAHBA & SHIHA (Monday 25)

From blues to house, things take a turn for the thumpin’ and bumpin’ thanks to two guys who don’t quite get as much as praise as they deserve. Marc Wahb is the man about town when it comes to the local house scene and he’ll be joined by one of the most refined DJs and producers around, the man they call SHIHA – all caps, always.

BOB DYLAN TRIBUTE (Thursday 28)

While CJC loves nothing more than introducing new acts and sounds to its discerning regulars, they also know that it’s important to salute the legends of yesteryear and have done so in spectacular fashion with tribute nights to some true greats. This time round, it’s the work of one Bob Dylan that’s under the spotlight with the likes of HanyMust, George Aboutar and some of the city’s best musicians set to perform.

This is just a snapshot of some of the events taking place at Cairo Jazz Club this month; stay up-to-date on the Cairo Jazz Club Facebook page.
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By Kalam El Qahaira