2013-14 CONCERT SEASON: IN REVIEW

Parissa & Dastan Ensemble - Friday, November 8, 2013 at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall
Parissa, noted for her command of the classical and Sufi repertoires of Persian music, is acknowledged as Iran’s foremost female vocalist. She came to prominence as a singer in her teens at concerts organized by the Iranian Ministry of Culture in the mid 1970s. While she has not performed publicly in Iran over the past 33 years she has built a considerable reputation abroad performing at prestigious festivals and concert halls throughout the world. The Dastan Ensemble. founded in 1991, is one of Iran's most important traditional music groups. It has toured the world, produced many award- winning recordings, and performed and recorded with many of Iran's finest vocalists. The ensemble features Hamid Motebassem (tar), Hossein Behroozinia (barbat), Saeed Farajpoury (kamancheh), Hamin Honari (tombak), Arjang Ataollahi (daf).
Parissa, noted for her command of the classical and Sufi repertoires of Persian music, is acknowledged as Iran’s foremost female vocalist. She came to prominence as a singer in her teens at concerts organized by the Iranian Ministry of Culture in the mid 1970s. While she has not performed publicly in Iran over the past 33 years she has built a considerable reputation abroad performing at prestigious festivals and concert halls throughout the world. The Dastan Ensemble. founded in 1991, is one of Iran's most important traditional music groups. It has toured the world, produced many award- winning recordings, and performed and recorded with many of Iran's finest vocalists. The ensemble features Hamid Motebassem (tar), Hossein Behroozinia (barbat), Saeed Farajpoury (kamancheh), Hamin Honari (tombak), Arjang Ataollahi (daf).

Bombino - Friday, December 6, 2013 at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall
Omara “Bombino” Moktar is a guitarist and singer from the Sahara desert who has built a legendary reputation in his homeland as a musical harbinger of peace. Born and raised in Niger, Bombino is a member of the Tuareg Ifoghas tribe, a nomadic people descended from the Berbers of North Africa. For centuries the Tuareg tribes, scattered throughout Niger, northern Mali, southern Algeria and Libya, have fought against colonialism and the imposition of strict Islamic rule. He is accompanied by Moussa Kildjate Albadi (bass, vocals), Mohamed Emoud Atchinguel (guitar, vocals) Corey Wilhelm (drums) and Avi Salloway (harmonica).
Omara “Bombino” Moktar is a guitarist and singer from the Sahara desert who has built a legendary reputation in his homeland as a musical harbinger of peace. Born and raised in Niger, Bombino is a member of the Tuareg Ifoghas tribe, a nomadic people descended from the Berbers of North Africa. For centuries the Tuareg tribes, scattered throughout Niger, northern Mali, southern Algeria and Libya, have fought against colonialism and the imposition of strict Islamic rule. He is accompanied by Moussa Kildjate Albadi (bass, vocals), Mohamed Emoud Atchinguel (guitar, vocals) Corey Wilhelm (drums) and Avi Salloway (harmonica).

António Zambujo - Saturday, February 8, 2014 at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall
Portugal’s new fado star António Zambujo has been a major voice in recent years in the resurrection of male fado singers in a genre dominated by females. Winner of the Amália Rodrigues Foundation prize for ‘Best Male Fado Singer,’ Zambujo merges traditional fado with cante alentejano (male chant form from southern Portugal with North African influences) and Brazilian popular music. Zambujo starred as Amalia Rodriguez's husband in the blockbuster musical Amália for four years in Lisbon and then toured Portugal. After recording his first album O mesmo fado in 2002, Zambujo won the prestigious ‘Radio Nova FM’ prize for the ‘Best New Fado Voice’. He has toured Europe, Brazil and North America.
Portugal’s new fado star António Zambujo has been a major voice in recent years in the resurrection of male fado singers in a genre dominated by females. Winner of the Amália Rodrigues Foundation prize for ‘Best Male Fado Singer,’ Zambujo merges traditional fado with cante alentejano (male chant form from southern Portugal with North African influences) and Brazilian popular music. Zambujo starred as Amalia Rodriguez's husband in the blockbuster musical Amália for four years in Lisbon and then toured Portugal. After recording his first album O mesmo fado in 2002, Zambujo won the prestigious ‘Radio Nova FM’ prize for the ‘Best New Fado Voice’. He has toured Europe, Brazil and North America.

Alam Khan with Nitin Mitta - Sat Feb 15, 2014 at 8PM at Roulette
Alam Khan is the youngest son of the late Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, one of the greatest Indian musicians of the 20th century. Like his father, he plays the sarod, a skin-faced lute that is one of the primary instruments of classical Indian music. Following in his illustrious father's footsteps, he is building a reputation for a personal style that is innovative yet steeped in tradition. He currently teaches at the Ali Akbar College of Music in California, an institution founded by his father to teach classical Indian music in the US. Nitin Mitta is an accomplished and distiguished tabla player with a reputation for technical virtuosity, clarity of tone, and sensitivity to melodic nuances. He has performed with some of India's finest musicians and has toured throughout the world.
Alam Khan is the youngest son of the late Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, one of the greatest Indian musicians of the 20th century. Like his father, he plays the sarod, a skin-faced lute that is one of the primary instruments of classical Indian music. Following in his illustrious father's footsteps, he is building a reputation for a personal style that is innovative yet steeped in tradition. He currently teaches at the Ali Akbar College of Music in California, an institution founded by his father to teach classical Indian music in the US. Nitin Mitta is an accomplished and distiguished tabla player with a reputation for technical virtuosity, clarity of tone, and sensitivity to melodic nuances. He has performed with some of India's finest musicians and has toured throughout the world.

Simon Shaheen w Rima Khcheich - Sat Mar 1, 2014 at 8PM at Roulette
Simon Shaheen is acknowledged as one of the world’s finest exponents of the Arab ‘ud (short-necked unfretted lute). Born in a small Palestinian village, he studied initially with his father Hikmet, a renowned teacher of Arab music. In addition to the 'ud, he is unparalleled as a violinist who has mastered both the Eastern and Western styles. A brilliant improviser, he has become an icon in the US and a major force in the promotion of Arab music . Rima Khcheich, from Lebanon is fast becoming one of the most sought after singers of classical Arab songs. She is acknowledged both for the exquisite beauty of her voice and her profound knowledge of both traditional and modern Arab repertoire. She has performed with Simon Shaheen on many occasions in the U.S. and Lebanon.
Simon Shaheen is acknowledged as one of the world’s finest exponents of the Arab ‘ud (short-necked unfretted lute). Born in a small Palestinian village, he studied initially with his father Hikmet, a renowned teacher of Arab music. In addition to the 'ud, he is unparalleled as a violinist who has mastered both the Eastern and Western styles. A brilliant improviser, he has become an icon in the US and a major force in the promotion of Arab music . Rima Khcheich, from Lebanon is fast becoming one of the most sought after singers of classical Arab songs. She is acknowledged both for the exquisite beauty of her voice and her profound knowledge of both traditional and modern Arab repertoire. She has performed with Simon Shaheen on many occasions in the U.S. and Lebanon.

Asif Ali Khan Qawwal - Saturday, March 22, 2014 at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall
Asif Ali Khan, a premier disciple of the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, has shot to the forefront of Pakistan's Qawwali musicians over the past few years. He traces his musical ancestry back more than 350 years. His ensemble includes he father, seven brothers and a nephew. In 1999, he was elected “Best Young Pakistani Qawwali” by Lok Versa (National Institute of Folk Heritage of Islamabad). While continuing to offer his singing at religious shrines throughout Pakistan, he has made numerous tours in Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East performing at festivals and major concert halls.
Asif Ali Khan, a premier disciple of the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, has shot to the forefront of Pakistan's Qawwali musicians over the past few years. He traces his musical ancestry back more than 350 years. His ensemble includes he father, seven brothers and a nephew. In 1999, he was elected “Best Young Pakistani Qawwali” by Lok Versa (National Institute of Folk Heritage of Islamabad). While continuing to offer his singing at religious shrines throughout Pakistan, he has made numerous tours in Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East performing at festivals and major concert halls.

Amir Nojan / Nava Ensemble - Sat April 26, 2014 at 8PM at Roulette
Amir Nojan is a virtuoso setar (small unfretted Persian lute) player based in Californina for the past 15 years. Born in Shiraz, Iran, he studied with some of the modern masters of traditional Persian music including Dariush Tala'i, Mohammad Reza Lotfi and Jalal Zolfanoun. His group, the Nava Ensemble, features musicians steeped in the radif, a repository of Persian music that is the foundation of today’s repertoire. The trio includes Taghi Amjadi, a vocalist who has mastered the intricate and ornate singing tradition of Persian music and has a deep understanding a of mystical Persian poetry; and Sina Dehghani, a percussionist par excellence whose instruments include the tonbak (goblet shaped drum) and daf (frame drum).
Amir Nojan is a virtuoso setar (small unfretted Persian lute) player based in Californina for the past 15 years. Born in Shiraz, Iran, he studied with some of the modern masters of traditional Persian music including Dariush Tala'i, Mohammad Reza Lotfi and Jalal Zolfanoun. His group, the Nava Ensemble, features musicians steeped in the radif, a repository of Persian music that is the foundation of today’s repertoire. The trio includes Taghi Amjadi, a vocalist who has mastered the intricate and ornate singing tradition of Persian music and has a deep understanding a of mystical Persian poetry; and Sina Dehghani, a percussionist par excellence whose instruments include the tonbak (goblet shaped drum) and daf (frame drum).

Omar Faruk Tekbilek w Murat Tekbilek - Sat May 3, 2014 at 8PM +7PM Artist Talk at Roulette
Born in the Turkish city of Adana to a musical family, Omar Faruk Tekbilek is a brilliant interpreter of Sufi, folk and contemporary music of the Middle East. An evocative vocalist and virtuoso on several instruments, including the ney (bamboo flute) and baglama (long-necked lute), he has has been a major force in world music since the 1970s. His collaborations have included composer/producer Brian Keane, trumpeter Don Cherry, master percussionist Arto Tuncboyaciyan and 'ud and violin virtuoso Simon Shaheen. Murat Tekbilek has been the lead percussionist in his father’s ensembles for a decade and has performed throughout the world. His instruments include darbuka (goblet drum), def and bendir (frame drums)
Born in the Turkish city of Adana to a musical family, Omar Faruk Tekbilek is a brilliant interpreter of Sufi, folk and contemporary music of the Middle East. An evocative vocalist and virtuoso on several instruments, including the ney (bamboo flute) and baglama (long-necked lute), he has has been a major force in world music since the 1970s. His collaborations have included composer/producer Brian Keane, trumpeter Don Cherry, master percussionist Arto Tuncboyaciyan and 'ud and violin virtuoso Simon Shaheen. Murat Tekbilek has been the lead percussionist in his father’s ensembles for a decade and has performed throughout the world. His instruments include darbuka (goblet drum), def and bendir (frame drums)