Alaev Family

Alaev Family

Alaev Family is a Tajikistan-born family ensemble associated with Tajik, Bukharan Jewish and Israeli musical traditions. The group centres on percussion-led performance and is built around three generations of musicians.

Background

The family’s musical roots lie in the music of Tajikistan and the Jewish music of Bukhara. Allo Alaev learns the doira, a frame drum with metal rings, at an early age and becomes a percussion specialist. He is appointed the first percussionist in the folk opera company in Dushanbe, the Tajikistani capital, and tours and performs with it for 50 years.

The family emigrates to Israel in 1991. Allo Alaev continues the family tradition there and the ensemble becomes known through television appearances and concerts in Israel and abroad.

Members and instrumentation

The group includes Allo Alaev, his sons Ariel and Amin, and his grandchildren Zvika, Allen, Amir and Aviva. The verified membership also includes אמין אלייב, Amir Alaev and אריאל אלייב. The family performs as a three-generation ensemble, with the younger generation forming part of the group’s crossover between older and newer styles.

In performance, the family uses doira, darbukka, Alofon percussion, cajon, Turkish clarinet, garmon accordion, bayan, violin, Bukharian horn and duduk. Bass is played by Yonathan Levy of Izabo.

Musical role

Allo Alaev composes percussion pieces and is known for playing up to nine drums at once. The ensemble’s sound is strongly rhythm-led, with percussion at its centre.