RBA in partnership with Brooklyn Maqam: ABDULRAHMAN AL-AKHFASH with ZAFIR TAWIL / AMAL WAQAR with TAREQ RANTISI

Saturday, April 4, 2020. 8:00 pm (7pm Doors) Get your tickets now!!
https://roulette.org/event/rba-in-partnership-with-brooklyn-maqam-abdulrahman-al-akhfash-with-zafir-tawil-amal-waqar-with-tareq-rantisi/

The music of the Arabian peninsula is far less documented and more rarely heard than that of the Levant and of Egypt. On the southern edge of the peninsula lies Yemen, a country with an ancient history, remarkable architecture, and a rich musical culture that is steeped in the classic Arabic tradition of sung poetry. Both Yemen and its neighbor Oman are seafaring nations with a long history of trade with East Africa and Asia and have thus absorbed musical influences from these regions, as well as from nomadic tribal culture.

Yemeni singer and ‘ud (lute) player Abdulrahman al-Akhfash has a wide command of Yemeni genres and is particularly noted for his contribution to and development of the Sanani (North Yemen) tradition of classical Arabic and Yemeni songs. He has built a considerable reputation throughout Yemen and the Yemeni diaspora for his performances which include both traditional songs and his own compositions. He is accompanied by Palestinian multi-instrumentalist Zafer Tawil and others to be announced.

Amal Waqar is a young singer and ‘ud player from the coastal city of Muscat, Oman. At a young age she began to study the ‘ud, an instrument that was traditionally played only by men. Currently living in Boston, she continues her musical education at Berklee College and dedicates much of her time to teaching ‘ud to women. She sings and plays both traditional Omani songs, as well as her own compositions. She is accompanied by Palestinian percussionist Tareq Rantisi.

​This concert presented by Robert Browning Associates in partnership with Brooklyn Maqam.

Due to COVID-19, we regret that this performance has been canceled. — This performance will feature classic hits from the golden era as well as a few Brian Prunka originals. Simon Moushabeck, currently living in New Orleans, will be back in town for this special reunion performance!

8:00pm - Sharq Attack 9:00pm - Open Jam Session Admission: $10 Doors at 7:30pm

Sharq Attack: Marandi Hostetter - 5 string violin Brian Prunka - Oud John Murchison - Bass Simon Moushabeck - Percussion Rami El-Aasser - Percussion

Formed in 2015, Sharq Attack, led by BMH founding members Marandi Hostetter (5 string violin), Brian Prunka (oud) and John Murchison (bass), and joined by Rami El-Aasser (percussion) and Simon Moushabeck (percussion and accordion), plays music stemming from the maqam tradition of the middle east, ranging from Arabic favorites to obscure rarities to modern originals. Its members have performed with a wide cross-section of musicians in NY’s middle-eastern music scene, including Simon Shaheen, Zikrayat, AlSarah & the Nubatones, Nashaz, the Bil Afrah Project, Nano Raies, Wajde Ayoub, among many others.

Due to COVID-19, we regret that this performance has been canceled.

We are happy to be a joining Brooklyn Raga Massive in presenting Iraqi vocalist Zahra Zubaidi as part of their celebration of female musicians in NYC, the Women's Raga Massive Festival.

$15 | 8:30pm Performance | 10pm BRM Weekly Raga Jam

https://www.facebook.com/events/911128989290063/

Born in Iraq, Zubaidi is a New York-based vocalist/actor. She has performed with Safaafir, the only US-based ensemble dedicated to performing the Iraqi Maqam, this year at Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum, and, most recently, Roulette. She is a student of Iraqi Maqam under the guidance of renowned Iraqi Maqam master Mr. Hamid Al Saadi.

Palestinian Kanun virtuoso & composer Firas Zreik, will be presenting a set of original compositions that travel between Classical Arabic Maqam & World Jazz in an organic fusion

8:00pm - The Firas Zreik Quartet 9:00pm - Open Jam Session Admission: $10 Doors at 7:30pm

• Kanun: Firas Zreik
• Guitar: Elia Bishara
• Bass: Pietro Gennenzi
• Percussion: Gilbert Mansour

Palestinian Kanun Player, Composer & Arranger, born in Haifa in 1995, currently based in New York. Firas received a full-scholarship from the prestigious Berklee College of Music where he studied for five years, graduating with two bachelor degrees in Performance & Jazz Composition with high distinction. He worked, recorded & performed with master musicians and artists from all over the world, including Roger Waters, Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Goshal, Simon Shaheen, Bassam Saba, Amal Murkus, Fabrizio Cassol, Amir Al-Saffar, Aynur Dogan, Raghu Dixit, Marwan Khoury, Abeer Nehmeh and many more. In addition, he performed all over the United States, Europe & the Middle East, both as a Kanun player and as a musical director in some of the most prestigious venues and festivals such as Boston Symphony Hall, Lincoln Center-NY, Carthage International Festival – Tunisia, Savannah Music Festival, Institut de Mont Arabe – Paris, Teatro Mediterraneo – Napoli, Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, Smithsonian Museum – Washington DC, Palais des Congrès - Belgium, Berklee Performnce Center, The Jazz Gallery - NY & many more. His mother, Amal Murkus is a leading Palestinian singer of international renown. Firas is the musical director of her band, he also recorded on her latest album, in addition to writing and composing many of her recent songs. The two have toured together in Europe, USA & the Middle East and are currently working on new albums.

Greek, Turkish & Armenian tavern songs from the early 1900s, heard from Athens & Thessaloniki to New York. The Maeandros Ensemble released albums and performed regularly between 2006-2010. For this performance the old friends come together again to take you back in time to the sounds of the Cafe Aman.

8:00pm - Mavrothi Kontanis & The Maeandros Ensemble 9:00pm - Open Jam Session Admission: $10 Doors at 7:30pm

Featuring: Lefteris Bournias - clarinet Megan Gould - violin Shane Shanahan - percussion Philip Mayer - percussion Mavrothi Kontanis - oud & voice

This Maqam performance includes a classical Iraqi repertoire of Nazim El Ghazali, Afifa Iskanar, and Wahida Khalil by Iraqi vocalist Zahra Zubaidi.

Born in Iraq, Zubaidi is a New York-based vocalist/actor. She has performed with Safaafir, the only US-based ensemble dedicated to performing the Iraqi Maqam, this year at Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum, and, most recently, Roulette. She is a student of Iraqi Maqam under the guidance of renowned Iraqi Maqam master Mr. Hamid Al Saadi.

8:00pm - Zahra Zubaidi - Iraqi Maqam 9:00pm - Open Jam Session Admission: $10 Doors at 7:30pm

Featuring: Zahra Zubaidi - vocals Sami Abu Shumays - violin Omar Dewachi - oud John Murchison - qanun Johnny Farraj - percussion Nezih Antakli - percussion

About Maqam : The maqam is the classical vocal tradition of Iraq and one of the most refined of the many maqam traditions found throughout the Arab and Muslim world. In Iraq, the term maqam refers to highly-structured, semi-improvised, compositions that take years of disciplined study under a master to learn fully. Often rhythmically free and meditative, they are sung to Classical Arabic and colloquial Iraqi poetry, and are followed by light-hearted, rhythmic songs, known as pestaat. http://www.amirelsaffar.com/2012/01/08/about-the-iraqi-maqam/

Shelley Thomas + Brooklyn Takht.

8:00pm - Shelley Thomas + Brooklyn Takht 9:00pm - Open Jam Session Admission: $10 Doors at 7:30pm

Shelley Thomas (vocals, oud) performs exquisite Arabic songs from Egypt accompanied by Marwan Allam (bass), Nezih Antakli (riq) and Zafer Tawil (qanun). This special performance includes rare repertoire from Golden Era singers Nour al Houda, Asmahan, Mohammed Abdel Wahab, Oum Kalthoum and Leila Murad. Romantic poetry and complex song forms such as dawr and qasida pair with intricate microtonal modes (maqamat) to create the richly transportive effect of tarab (musical ecstasy).

For our first Brooklyn Maqam Hang of 2020, we are delighted to feature The Istanbul Trio (+special guests). They will present Turkish Maqam, Folk and Contemporary Music from Anatolia to Mesopotamia, exploring the interactions of Turkish music with it's wide array of influences from Armenian, Byzantine, Jewish and Middle Eastern cultures.

8:00pm - Istanbul Trio feat Philip Mayer and John Murchison 9:00pm - Open Jam Session Admission: $10 Doors at 7:30pm

Featuring: Ertugrul Erkisi - Oud, Tanbour, Vocals Aslihan Erkisi - Lyra, Istanbul Kemenche, Vocals Fatih Bayram - Guitar Philip Mayer - Percussion John Murchison - Bass

Microaggressions: Arab American repertoire for electric guitar and takht.

8:00pm - Microaggressions 9:00pm - Open Jam Session Admission: $10 Doors at 7:30pm

In this concert, Microaggressions will be building on the momentum of its last genre-bending set at Sisters, presenting faithful, if amplified, renditions of Arab classics by composers such as Balegh Hamdi and Sayyed Makawi alongside non-Arab works by composers as diverse as Aram Khachaturian and Erik Satie. Most enticingly, this Microaggressions show will feature the premiere of what the group is calling the "Wasla from Hell," an extensive suite that juxtaposes melodies by the venerated Arab masters Mohammed Abdl Wahab, Farid Al Atrash, and Mohammed Qasabgi with metal and proto-metal riffs by Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Slayer.

Featuring: Josh Farrar - electric guitars Sprocket Royer - bass Johnny Farraj - percussion Gilbert Mansour - percussion Philip Mayer - percussion

Bahloul is a musician, poet, and artist. He was born in Syria in 1983, and currently lives in America and works and teaches as a clinical psychiatrist. His debut music album “Talassus Voyeur” by db Realms Productions was dropped in June 2019.

The songs tell stories of identity, belonging, love, triumphs and defeats. English translations to the lyrics will be projected during the show. The music is Arabic fusion with different moods.

8:00pm - Bahloul & Friends 9:00pm - Open Jam Session Admission: $10 Doors at 7:30pm

Featuring: Bahloul: Acoustic Oud, Electric Oud, Vocals Mohamed Araki: Keyboard Dillon Zahner: Percussion Ghassan Sawalhi: Percussion

www.thebahloul.com

Robert Browning Associates and Lotus Music & Dance in partnership with Brooklyn Maqam present

HAMID AL-SAADI with SAFAAFIR featuring AMIR ELSAFFAR, DENA EL SAFFAR & TIM MOORE

The Iraqi maqam (melodic mode), one of Iraq’s richest cultural offerings, features sophisticated melodies, infectious rhythms, and eloquent poetry. Hamid Al-Saadi, Iraq’s foremost purveyor of this centuries-old tradition, is renowned for his powerful voice and highly ornamented style, as well as his comprehensive knowledge of the intricate details of the music and poetry of Iraq. He studied with the legendary Yusuf Omar, who named Al-Saadi as his successor. Muhammed Al-Gubbenchi, who taught Omar and was probably the most influential maqam reciter in history, said that he considered Al-Saadi to be the "ideal link to pass on the maqam to future generations." Al-Saadi is the only person from his generation to have memorized and mastered all 56 maqamat from the Baghdad repertoire, and is one of the few vocalists to keep this maqam alive today.

He is joined by Safaafir, the only US-based ensemble dedicated to performing the Iraqi maqam in its traditional format. The group is led by Amir ElSaffar (santur-zither) and Dena El Saffar (violin, joza - bowed lute) of Iraqi descent and features Tim Moore on percussion.

https://www.robertbrowningassociates.com/19-20-hamid-al-saadi.html

Jennifer and her "takht" ensemble will be performing a variety of Tarab music within the repertoire of classical female Egyptian vocalists, including Oum Kalthoum, Asmahan, Souad Mohammed, and more.
https://www.jennifergrout.com
https://www.facebook.com/jennigrout

8:00pm - Jennifer Grout 9:00pm - Open Jam Session Admission: $10 Doors at 7:30pm

Featuring: Jennifer Grout - Vocals Sami Abu Shumays - Violin John Murchison - Qanun Brian Prunka - Oud Johnny Farraj - Riq Gilbert Mansour - Darbuka

Jennifer, the American singer and luthist from Arab's Got Talent, grew up in a family of musicians and began her artistic career as a classical singer. A native of Boston, MA, she studied at Longy School of Music and Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Later, she attended McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where she obtained her bachelor's degree in classical voice. While living in Montreal, she developed a great interest in Arabic music; she learned to play the "oud" (Arabic lute) and began listening to well-known Arab singers such as Fairuz and Umm Kalthoum. She quickly became involved in the community of Arabic music in Montreal where she studied with several teachers, including Aziz Daouni, Zied Benamor and Mohamed Masmoudi, and picked up a side job of performing Arabic music regularly at a local Syrian restaurant called "Kaza Maza." Jennifer began an ongoing study of Tarab singing with Mr. Mohsen Soua, the administrator of an exclusive classical Arab vocal music forum called "Zaman Al Wasl." Throughout her studies, she also performed with the Michigan Arab Orchestra under Michael Ibrahim, and attended renowned Simon Shaheen's Arabic Music Retreat in Massachusetts, where she took voice lessons with Rima Khcheich and had her first solo debut. In 2013, she had the chance to appear on MBC's Arab's Got Talent, singing pieces by Oum Kalthoum and Asmahan, and managed to come in second place. She went on to participate in several festivals in Morocco, such as Timitar, and other concerts abroad in Lebanon, Dubai, Kuwait, Tunisia, Canada, Qatar, and the USA. She has spent a large portion of her career in Morocco and has also been influenced by it's various musical styles.

The Amal Waqar Quartet, featuring Panagiotis Aivazidis (kanun), Manos Stratis (bass), and Kan Yanabe (percussion), presents original music and arrangements of classics from the Sultanate of Oman.

8:00pm - The Amal Waqar Quartet 9:00pm - Open Jam Session Admission: $10 Doors at 7:30pm

Amal Waqar is a dynamic young Omani/American oud player and composer. Born and raised in Muscat, Oman, she began developing her passion for music at age three, and clandestinely listened to it throughout her childhood. During her late teens, Amal’s tireless pursuit of music materialized in an oud. During her brief six-year career, she has established herself as an internationally performing artist, participating in music festivals like the Beirut & Beyond International Music Festival in Lebanon, and Katara’s Festival for Oud Instrument in Qatar. In addition to managing her career, Amal was recently awarded a Bachelor’s of Music in Oud Performance from Berklee College of Music, where she worked closely with oud master Simon Shaheen.

Featuring: Amal Waqar - oud, voice, composition Panagiotis Aivazidis - kanun Manos Stratis - upright bass Kan Yanabe - percussion

With a musical vision that is at once ethereal and grounded, Dolunay flirts with the soundscape of the ancient Ottomans, tracing its migration through Balkan villages, coaxing it across seas and oceans, and grafting it onto a Brooklyn-based backdrop. The trio infuses classic and contemporary traditions with an urban grit that can only be found in New York City’s confluence of musical and cultural forces. With an array of original compositions offered alongside renditions of Turkish and Rumeli standards, the music of Dolunay (Turkish for “full moon”) offers listeners an escape from the press of city life.

8:00pm - Dolunay 9:00pm - Open Jam Session Admission: $10 Doors at 7:30pm

Featuring: Jenny Luna - voice, percussion Adam Good - ud Eylem Basaldi - violin

www.dolunaynyc.com www.dolunay.bandcamp.com

Brooklyn Maqam is excited to present an intimate concert with Syrian vocalist Nano Raies at the Brooklyn Lutherie.

Nano Raies is a singer and songwriter originally from Homs, Syria. She fled the war in Syria and came to pursue her passion in music, becoming the first Syrian female to attend and graduate from Berklee College of Music. Nano sings in English, Arabic, spanish, Portuguese, and French, and her style is a fusion of Middle Eastern Arabic music, classical, pop, gypsy jazz, Latin, bossa nova, and Choro. www.nanoraies.com

Nano Raies at Brooklyn Lutherie October 11th, 2019 8:00pm (Doors at 7:30pm) Admission: $20 Advance / 25 Door

LIMITED SEATING. Get your tickets now!

Robert Browning Associates & Lotus Music & Dance in partnership with Brooklyn Maqam present

WAJDE AYUB Syrian Wasla - Soul Music of Syria

Wajde Ayub, born in Aleppo, is a classically trained Syrian mutrib (principal vocalist) who has been acclaimed for his exquisite and commanding renderings of wasla, an Arab musical suite that incorporates composed and improvised forms.

His performances are reminiscent of those of his mentor, the great Sabah Fakhri, and resonate with the musical ecstasy known as tarab, a heightened state of emotion similar to duende in flamenco. For over 25 years he performed with many of the major musical figures of Aleppo, and today is a leading proponent of the Syrian wasla in the US. His ensemble features a chorus and instrumentalists on ‘ud (lute), qanun (zither), nay (flute), violin, bass, cello and percussion.

https://www.robertbrowningassociates.com/19-20-wajde.html

Exploring connections between music from Spanish and Arabic traditions, from the Cantigas de Santa Maria to the Algerian Flamenco

8:00pm - Julia Patinella and Brian Prunka 9:00pm - Open Jam Session Admission: $10 Doors at 7:30pm

Featuring: Julia Patinella - vocals Brian Prunka - oud Andreas Arnold - guitar Eylem Basaldi - violin Jeremy Smith - percussion

Brooklyn Maqam Hang & The Turk's Inn are proud to present Eden Zane!

You're invited to a night of ambient tarab that delivers a collection of Eden's favorite Arabic songs, with stellar musicians and a surprise guest. Stick around after the set for music from DJ Roshni Samlal!

Eden Zane is a Syrian singer and actor. His passion, innate musicality, and velvety-disarming vocals placed him on prime stages like Lincoln Center, GlobalFEST and Joe’s Pub, and featured his voice on Hulu's RAMY.

Featuring: Eden Zane (vocals) Zafer Tawil (oud) Sami Abu Shumays (violin) John Murchison (qanun) Marouan Allam (electric bass) Brian Lawlor (keyboard / synth) Gilbert Mansour (percussion) Nezih Antakli (percussion)

ROSHNI SAMLAL Roshni Samlal is a New York–based tabla player originating from Trinidad, WI, where she was initiated into the tradition of Indian classical music at the age of 5, into the academic community of “Bharatiya Vidya Sansthan”, taught by the Hindusthani classical theorist and composer, Professor H.S.Adesh, both in vocal performance and tabla. Since 1998 he has continued her tutelage in the Benares style of tabla playing under Shri Tapan Modak and is currently a student of the epic Farukhbad exponent Pt. Anindo Chatterjee and the masterful Punjab/Benares . While her passion is Indian classical tabla, Roshni has performed in many collaborative settings in creating scores for films and playing for kirtan singers such as Snatam Kaur and Nina Rao. Roshni has had the opportunity to accompany maestros in the Hindustani classical world, such as Pt. Subrata Roy Chaudhuri, Steve Gorn. Roshni is an actively performing member of the innovative collective, the Brooklyn Raga Massive and teaches in the NY area.

An evening exploring the beauty of the Oud as a singular musical expression and the poetry of Arabic music through treasured songs of Abdel Wahab, Nagat, Warda, Abdel Halim, and Om Kolthoum. Performed on a 1910 Hanna Nahat Oud, with accompaniment from percussionist Philip Mayer.

8:00pm - George Abud 9:00pm - Open Jam Session Admission: $10 Doors at 7:30pm

George Abud is a Lebanese-American actor and multi-instrumentalist who was brought up in a family of Arabic musicians and has studied Classical Arabic music for over 20 years. He has originated roles on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and received a Daytime Emmy Award for his work on the NBC Today show with the Broadway production of The Band’s Visit. He has helped bridge the world of the Oud with that of the contemporary musical theatre, and he was the first artist to play solo Oud live for the composer Stephen Sondheim. Coming from four generations of Lebanese Oud players, it is his great pleasure to share the instrument and its voice with others.

Featuring: George Abud - oud, vocals Philip Mayer - percussion

Kane began playing the Oud in 1998 under the instruction of Mutlu Torun, the head of the Oud, strings, and composition department at Istabul's I.T.U. conservatory. Mutlu Torun is also the author of the renowned Oud method book Ud Metodu. Kane then continued his study with one of Turkey's top Oud soloists Münir Nurettin Beken engaging in 5 and a half years of intense study that then culminated in Kane taking over the Seattle Turkish Music Student Ensemble. He has held residencies at the University of Washington, Oberlin, and Lawrence University. For the last 10 years Kane has maintained an international presence as an accompanist and soloist and is often commissioned to compose new works for media, dance, and theater. Other accolades include the world premier of his suite for solo Oud “5 Windows” in Lebanon, and a 2012 Earshot Jazz “Album of the year” award in the U.S.

This program will feature original compositions in traditional and Neo-traditional forms and Makams.

8:00pm - Kane Mathis 9:00pm - Open Jam Session Admission: $10 Doors at 7:30pm

Featuring: Kane Mathis - Oud Phil Mayer - Percussion John Murchison - Bass