SIROCCO is the duo Sulyman el Coyote and Armando Mafufo. Based in Santa Cruz California, SIROCCO has enjoyed playing Middle Eastern music for belly-dancers across the United States, Canada and Hawaii since 1971. Their specialty is improvisation within the genre using traditional instruments.
SIROCCO has loyal fans who enjoy their ability to create an electrifying atmosphere that ignites audiences and belly-dancers alike.
Sulyman el Coyote is accomplished on several instruments and is a powerful vocalist. He plays masterful oud, diabolical violin, and is ethereal on the ney. What can we say about his expertise on saz, kanoon, mizmar, arghool, clarinet, and Flamenco guitar. He also handcrafts and sells the very best tuned zills and creates very unique silver jewelry.
Armando Mafufo, (Uncle Mafufo) is a melodic doumbek player. He is a master of shading and textures on the drum. He enjoys playing the traditional instruments like nakara, tabl beledi, and an assortment of Middle Eastern frame drums. Armando plays tabl beledi (the big drum) for a powerful tribal style performance with Sulyman on the mizmar. Uncle Mafufo has produced four CDs of his solo compositions in addition to his very popular series of Middle Eastern Rhythms/Technique videos for learning Doumbek, Riq and Def and a CD of 25 Essential Rhythms for every drummer/dancer.
