Rima Khcheich, vocals
Yuri Honing, saxophone
Maarten van der Grinten, guitar
Tony Overwater, double bass
Joost Lijbaart, drums

The renowned Lebanese singer Rima Khcheich starts a new crossover project with Jazz in Motion. In 2002-2003 Rima was also part of the
successful Arab/Dutch formation Orient Express that featured a/o the members of the Yuri Honing Trio. A warm friendship between the musicians developed and they stayed in touch with each other. Early 2006 Rima invited bassist Tony Overwater for a special solo project in Beirut. After the war in Lebanon, Rima visited Holland to give an exclusive concert at the international War & Peace Conference in
Amsterdam. She was accompanied by Tony Overwater, saxophonist Yuri Honing, guitarist Maarten van der Grinten and drummer Joost Lijbaart. The result of this performance was so extraordinary, the musicians immediately decided to make plans for the near future.
In 2007 a new CD will be released and an international presentation tour will follow. The repertoire of the new album consists of traditional and modern Arab songs in western contemporary arrangements: music that brings together two musical cultures of seemingly different directions.

Rima Khcheich started singing at the age of seven, and two years later she became a member of the Arab orchestra and choral in Beirut under the direction of Salim Sahhab. At the age of eleven, she became a soloist with Sahhab’s group, singing the most difficult repertoire in Arabic vocal music. A graduate of The Lebanese National Conservatory of Music and The Lebanese American University, Rima has performed in live performances throughout the Middle East, Europe and the USA specializing in Arab-Andalusian Muwashshahat form, and 19th & 20th century Arabic traditional vocal repertoires. Since 1999, Rima Khcheich is an instructor of Classical Arabic Singing at The Lebanese National Superior Conservatory of Music in Beirut and has been a faculty member of the Annual Arabic Music Retreat at Mount Holyoke College.

Rima Khchiech's latest relase
Yalalalli

Her first solo cd is just released in the middle east. Featuring some renowned musicians such as Ziad Rahbany and Tony Overwater. With compositions specially arranged or composed for her.

Rima reviewed
Press quotes

A magnificent, splashing and flexible voice, a faultless intonation and
a keen musical ear
- Volkskrant, The Netherlands

If oriental singing is your thing, don’t miss this
- Time Out, Lebanon

Her tender, classically trained vocals, even slightly remind you of Portuguese fado
- Haarlems Dagblad, The Netherlands

Khcheich is a singer who articulates very precisely
- Jazz, The Netherlands

She sings dreamy .... it’s always beautiful
- Alkmaarder Courant, The Netherlands

A clear and warm voice
- De Gelderlander, The Netherlands