Music CV and reviews
Mustafa Stefan Dill (guitars, oud)
was born in New Mexico to a Mexican mother and German-Irish father. His mutli-national and cross-cultural childhood experiences include strong memories with Lebanese relatives in Mexico and formative years in the culturally diverse city of Montpellier, France.
His initial music - an intense and unique convergence of traditional flamenco and Middle Eastern elements and modern free improvisation - won critical praise with recordings such as Warning Clothed in Bright Robes of Dawn, Sangre Del Rio and Six Peaces (his debut on the oud), paving the way for his hallmark approach of combining modern and traditional improvising techniques within a deep immersion of various cultural musical traditions.
He has performed in solo concerts throughout Europe since 1992 in both improvised music and guitar circles at such venues and festivals as FMP's Total Music Meeting, Wirral Guitar Festival, Paderborn Guitar Festival, Zuid Nederlands Jazz Festival, Festival HispanoAmericano de la Guitarra, Erlbach, Nickelsdorf, and others.
He has performed with artists such as Cecil Taylor (special invitation as part of the Ensemble, Knitting Factory, May 1996), Guus Janssen (Eindhoven 1995), and more recently with mJane and Out of Context.
He also maintained the adventurous energy of classic progressive rock and free jazz in such projects as the Stefan Dill Trio's release Run For Heaven (2002), Sama Duo, and the prog/word/funk trio Pray For Brain, which released its debut CD "None Of the Above" early spring of 2014 on 7DMedia to critical acclaim.
His current projects include a resurrection of the free jazz quartet Love Unfold The Sun as well as a return to solo material.
REVIEWS
“...an electro-organic feast, enveloping a 3D outlook, spanning Middle Eastern oud-based rock,Indofunk, jazz fusion and hearty doses of improvisation. Here, exceptionally versatile guitarist Mustafa Stefan Dill integrates thrusting King Crimson chord voicings, understated melodies, shades of Americana, Mid-Eastern modalities and performs on the oud as well. ...”
- Glenn Astarita, allaboutjazz.com (Feb 07, 2015)
“... These eleven tracks boast plenty of chops, improvisation and a jam-like quality that will keep you guessing where the music will go next. Jam band, jazz fusion and psychedelic overtones abound as Dill's guitar work absolutely shines. ... Fans of fusion music will certainly find something to enjoy with None of the Above. Folks, this one's a keeper."”
- Jon Neudorf, Sea of Tranquility (Sep 09, 2014)
“....Mustafa Stefan has his very own way with the guitar (and oud!) that is technically adept but very lucid and original in a Mideastern minor mode that has rock heft when he chooses to crank a bit--and a bit of the hang-ten surf sound down pat when he brings that on. ... Mustafa's signature guitar style all give you something different, something extra.”
-Grego Applegate Edwards, Gapplegate (Sep 19, 2014)
"...packed with Hendrix inspired blues licks and string bends, coupled with John McLaughlin out there raw energy bursting into beautifully sustained feedback parries with bass and drums... To coin a well known phrase, 'it's music, but not as we know it Jim.'" (for Stefan Dill Trio, 2002)
- Julian Derry, JMWeb
"Loud, burning, skronky stuff (although, they do calm down at times and indulge in some more restrained, quiet passages). It's all very beautiful if you're into this sort of thing, definitely for fans of Mahavishnu John McLaughlin and Nels Cline!! Cool." (for Stefan Dill Trio, 2002)
- Aquarius Records
"Eine mitreißende Tour durch eine andere Welt von Klängen undInspirationen. Flamenco? Ja - aber einmal ganz anders!" - Peter Maier, Gitarre Aktuell ,I/98 (No. 60)
"... Dill's evocative solo nylon string pieces are an ear-stretching hybrid of Bailey's stark pointillism and traditional flamenco gestures....full of delicate dynamic shading and poignant silences. Soulful and innovative."
- Joe Gore, Guitar Player
VIDEO:
Love Unfold The Sun: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrrgA6JctNy_Fs11LAnz3pvywajB9fG_4
Suspicious Packages solo demos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL24E40E1A71BE5695 (composition, pocket, tones, electric oud, fretless)
Pray For Brain trio highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37MU3hVWfKU (stage presence, improvisation)
Pray For Brain w/KBenally and letsjusb
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrrgA6JctNy_aK3uIjAQM7ejAms_4g4-w (with hip hop duo)
Bulerias: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pw_p1hG65w (flamenco)
Paris Improvisation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8me7TNRlIEc (acoustic oud)
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MustafaStefanDill/
https://www.facebook.com/NorumbaRecords/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/NorumbaRecords/
youtube: http://youtube.com/norumba
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NorumbaRecords
Photo: Lisa Jo Goldman
Photo: self
Pray For Brain video highlights
Love Unfold The Sun - How The Nexus Affects Us (Live At Duel)
Some high energy rapid fire listening and group interplay... what group improvisation is about.
"How The Nexus Affects Us" from the new Love Unfold The Sun release "Live At Duel", available now at https://loveunfoldthesun.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-duel .
Love Unfold The Sun - Zapatos (Live At Duel)
Taking the oud into the realm of free jazz: "Zapatos" from the new Love Unfold The Sun release "Live At Duel", available now at https://loveunfoldthesun.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-duel .
This song puts the oud into the context of free jazz, but it still keeps a traditional sound. It is an interesting space and challenge to bridge both worlds with an authenticity to each, but I think this song accomplishes that task.
Explode Yourself, Then Convulse
This is an uptempo "funk" piece, with some back and forth on distorted oud and Telecaster. Wife says its Hendix + 80s Miles meet up in Beirut.
Nightpath
This song is a Persian-inspired piece using the scale found in maqam bayati or dastgah Abu-Atta. Oud and fretless guitar.
