3 Mustaphas 3 - Bam! Big Mustaphas Play Stereolocalmusic

3 Mustaphas 3 is a British World music band formed in 1986. Core members are Ben Mandelson (under the name Hijaz Mustapha), Tim Fienburgh 1954-2008 (under the name Niaveti III) Colin Bass (under the name Sabah Habas Mustapha), and Drummer Houzam Mustapha, around which orbit many other Mustaphas - all supposed to be the nephews of Uncle Patrel Mustapha. They claim to originate from the Balkans, but play music from almost every continent; their slogan, "Forward in all directions!", is an expression of this musical diversity. Active at the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s, they have now stopped producing and performing together, but haven't officially disbanded.
Liner notes from their albums would have it that the band was created in a Balkan town called Szegerely, where it played at the Crazy Loquat Club, before the members were transported inside refrigerators to England.

In truth however the creation of the band began in 1982 when guitarist and musicologist Ben Mandelson, also known as Hijaz Mustapha, and Uncle Patrel, also known as Lu Edmonds, started playing together, along with Patrel's other "nephews", namely Houzam, Isfa'ani, Oussack and Niaveti III. Before World music became a genre, they were already playing musical styles from all around the globe. According to band members the first concert was held in a London restaurant that year. A concert in Berlin made them more, and two mini-albums were subsequently released, but their first full length album, Shopping, was recorded in 1987. The album covered a wide array of genres also including a cover of Moroccan Najat Atabou's Shouffi Rhirou. By then Oussack had left the band, but bassist Sabah Habas Mustapha, who may in fact be Colin Bass, and accordionist Kemo Mustapha had joined.

Their second full length album, Heart of Uncle, was released in 1989 and showed Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Irish and even Latin American influence. Soup of the Century, released in 1990, was their most acclaimed success however.
With tracks ranging from a Country song in Japanese to a Mexican traditional sung in Hindi, and going through a mix of Irish, Scottish, Greek, Albanian, Klezmer and many more styles, the Mustaphas had broken the last barriers separating ethnic music styles.

Daoudi joined during the recording and performed woodwinds. The Mustaphas had also been assisted on occasions by Lavra Tima Daviz on vocals and Expen$ive on trumpet, while guests Israeli singer Ofra Haza, and kora players Dembo Konte and Kausu Kuyateh from Gambia and Senegal respectively have played alongside them in the 80s.
The band would not be able to live on for long though, primarily due to a lack of money to keep such a big band together. A final album, Friends Fiends & Fronds was released in 1991, although it contained mostly remixes from previous albums. By the end of the year the band was no longer playing together. Sabah Habas pursued a solo career, releasing albums as Colin Bass, or performing with his band Camel as well as the Jugala Allstars from Indonesia, and Hijaz became a producer. The two were featured in an album from Zimbabwean artist Stella Chiweshe. Oussack (Ray Cooper) joined the Oysterband under the name Chopper.

Another album was released in 1997 containing live performances, and Sabas Habas and Hijaz came together again in 2001 to pick songs to include in their final live album, Play Musty for Me.
During the height of their fame, their live concerts were a delightful mix of humor, mystery and superb music played by musicians who had a deep understanding and appreciation of the music and the cultures from which that music arose. The audiences at these concerts were invited to bring ripe cheeses, which the Mustaphas would attempt to identify on stage.

1. Intro/Lebedik Un Freylekh
2. Singe Tema
3. To Tilefono Tis Xenitias
4. Mehmeteli
5. Chilling Tale
6. Thalasso P'ola Ta Nera
7. Vranjanski Ekspres
8. O Memetis
9. Hora Lui Marin
10. Besarabia
11. Niska Banja
12. Ainy La La/Ah Ya Ass Mar El Lawn
13. Cabra
14. Svadba
15. Bam

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