Background
Henry Azra is the son of the renowned international Kanunist, Salim Azra, who contributed to much of the success of Samy Elmaghribi and Salim Halali. Henry Azra was born in Casablanca and moved to Canada at age thirteen.
Henry Azra is the son of the renowned international Kanunist, Salim Azra, who contributed to much of the success of Samy Elmaghribi and Salim Halali. Henry Azra was born in Casablanca and moved to Canada at age thirteen.
Following in his late father"s footsteps, Henry is famously known for playing the Kanun. Growing up in Montreal, Azra became a student of his father. His life revolved around music and he spent much of his childhood learning about musicianship.
Over the years, Henry Azra learned to master numerous instruments including the Kanun, Oud, Darbuka and Violin.
Not widely known, Henry Azra in fact first started his career as a musician by playing the Darbuka at various musical clubs with his father in Montreal long before playing the Kanun. After years of playing the Darbuka, Azra slowly transitioned to the Kanun.
As years went by, recognition throughout Quebec for his special talents grew. Henry Azra is considered by many a virtuouso and is rated one of the top Qanunists.
His first professional recording experience was performing in the 1980s in Los Angeles, California with Heidi, one of Iran’s top traditional singers.
Henry Azra played and recorded music with various Middle Eastern singers from around the world, including Haim Louk, Samy Elmaghribi, Ragheb Alama, and George Wassouf. In addition, Azra performed with Wadih El Safi, Sabah, Sayed Mekawy, a major composer for the world famous singer, Oum Kalthoum, and many more. Azra currently performs classical Middle Eastern sensations around the world with his orchestra as the ensemble director
