Basem Darwisch is an Egyptian composer and oud player based in Germany. Born in April 1966 in Bani Mazar, Egypt, Darwisch grew up in a Coptic household and learned music at the local church. The musician initially performed with folk musicians of the Nile and Hejazi Mtagal until 1990. In 2002, Darwisch cofounded the multicultural ensemble Cairo Steps with German pianist Matthias Frey. Under his leadership, the group produced the albums Oud Lounge, Arabiskan (2014), and Route de la soie. The composer also recorded the single “Strawberry” (2003) with Mohammed Munir. Cairo Steps performed at prestigious venues, including the Hamburg Opera and the Cairo Opera, and collaborated with artists such as Sudanese singer Salmi Abdel Radhi and Grammy Award winner Fathi Salama. In 2018, Darwisch received the German Golden Jazz Award for the album The Flying Carpet, a collaboration with Quadro Nuevo.
