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Freh Khodja - Nobody's Wife

by Freh Khodja

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1.
Nobody's Wife 03:54
2.
Like A Child 04:42

about

Freh Khodja, sax and tenor

Among the eccentrics of Algerian music, Freh Khodja, 71 (h was born in 1949), is always, hale and hearty, under the effect of what André Gide would call the "great overturning of all the values that became reasons to live".

When he talks about his career, his eyes sparkle as much as his voice remains calm and fascinating. As the memories come back, it is immediately understandable that his love for music remains intact.

But what is it that keeps him going? He has achieved almost everything, both in terms of artistic endeavors and private life, belying the saying that as professional life flourishes, family life fades away. Freh has accomplished everything an artist could ever dream of. He is known as a composer, arranger and saxophonist of the highest order. As an impressive performer, he played at the Olympia, one of the most prestigious venues in Paris. He dabbled in acting and is the author of various soundtracks: he has composed for television (L'Amoureux de Madame Maigret, a James Thor TV movie or the successful soap opera Divisé par 2) and for the theater (Le Puits enchanté, among other plays). All of these sums up to a rather impressive career.

But in his heart, the fire still burns for music – at it will never be extinguished. Today still, like an inexhaustible craftsman, he continues to hone his art in his home studio with the enthusiasm of an “absolute beginner” that brings us back to the past, to the charming city of Sidi Bel-Abbès, bordered by the oued Mekerra, where he was born.

His family wanted to make him a sportsman like his brothers, but Freh could not curb his penchant for music and especially the saxophone, which will become his favorite instrument and emblem. Encouraged by his grandmother, this son of the great poet Belhadri (whose texts were sung by great Bedouin voices of the time such as El Madani and El Khaldi), will eventually enter the local conservatory to better combine theory and practice.

The first turning point in his life, already rich in twists and turns, came in 1968. That year, he settled in Paris to perfect his art and launch his trademark. It wasn’t easy, but his iron will would blow up any obstacle. He discovered the hard reality of being an immigrant with odd jobs. Then he joined his brother in Lyon where he became a lab assistant before returning to Paris. A highlight of his tumultuous journey is his enrollment at the École normale de musique de Paris, where he took saxophone lessons with the world-famous Marcel Josse.

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released October 31, 2023

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MLP Productions Paris, France

MLP Music is a world and contemporary music publishing company. Leader of the world music market, it has a catalog of more than 30.000 titles available for licensing and synchronization.

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