AMINA
Sensual, Charming, a whole host of global melodies, rhythmic measures and rich textured vocals are just on the horizon with AMINA. She is…“Queen of the Night” Don Heckman LA TIMES
“I’m interested in many musics,” explains Amina. “ I think of my voice as an instrument. I’m like a free spirit, a gypsy voice.” Read more…
ASSALA NASRI
With her stunningly powerful voice and her mastery of traditional, clasical and popular styles, Assala is considered by many the heir apparent to the icon of living Arab singer, Fairuz. Assala was born in Damascus, Syria and began her musical career by performing patriotic, religious and children’s songs. Read more…
KHALED (Cheb Khaled)
Khaled also known as the "King of Rai" Is an Algerian singer known internationally for singing rai — a unique blend of western contemporary music with North African rhythms. The lyrics utilize folk phrases intertwined with social commentary. Taken literally, rai translates to "opinion," and Khaled has taken that idea to heart. Although his music won him enemies among Algeria's Islamic fundamentalists in the 1980s, he continues to use his voice to spread a message of peace, love and personal freedom. Khaled headlined the first of the series of national tours for Peace through Music in 2005. Dawn Elder co-produced his album Ya Rai -with Don Was and co-wrote and produced one of the main hit singles on the album "Love to the People" in which Khaled duets with Reggae singer Elan and Carlos Santana. In the same year Love to the People released and his US Version of YA RAI prodcued by Dawn Elder and Don Was Khaled was named top 50 Voices in the World by NPR.
BASSAM SABA
Bassam Saba is among the most creative and influential figures in today’s Arabic music. Born in Lebanon, and now based in New York, Bassam has deep roots in Arabic tradition, a profound knowledge of Western classical music, and a feeling for jazz and pop. Read more...
ENZO AVITABILE
The spirit and soul of Southern ItalyEnzo Avitabile & I bottari(Italy)BiographyAvitable fuses powerful vocals, catchy melodies with his remarkable musicianship all to the spectacular rhythms & traditional folk sounds of I bottari. The result is a dynamic & contagious (Los Angeles Times)Enzo Avitabile has earned world acclaimed as an award. Read more...
HOMAYOUN SAKHI
Homayoun Sakhi is the most outstanding and innovative Afghan rubâb player of his generation, a brilliant virtuoso endowed with a charismatic musical presence and personality. The rubâb is the national instrument of Afghanistan. Homayon’s artistry demonstrates how an imaginative musician working within a traditional musical idiom can enrich and expand its expressive power while respecting the taste. Read more...
RIFFAT SULTANA
Riffat Sultana is the first woman from her family’s musical lineage to publicly perform in the west. She is the daughter of the late Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, who is universally recognized as the finest Pakistani Classical singer of his time. Riffat’s stunning vocals have been recorded for numerous labels. Read more...
SIMON SHAHEEN
Simon Shaheen dazzles his listeners as he deftly leaps from traditional Arabic sounds to jazz and Western classical styles. His soaring technique, melodic ingenuity, and unparalleled grace have earned him international acclaim as a virtuoso on the ‘oud and violin.
Shaheen is one of the most significant Arab musicians, performers, and composers. Read more...
DAWN ELDER
Dawn Elder is a composer, pianist and an award winning producer who has received numerous honors for her compositions, songs and music productions. Her multicultural events and Global television broadcast specials have earned numerous awards of recognition in the entertainment industry. As a pianist and performer she shares her true love for the music. Elder, began playing piano when she was 7 years old studying under the acclaimed Josef Krips the conductor of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra for numerous years before deciding to pursue music as a career. Elder has a BA degree in Music Composition and Theory Read more...
SOUAD MASSI
January 10th, 1999. There’s no doubt about it – that was when the spell was cast. At the Cabaret Sauvage, Souad Massi, a young Algerian artist, completely unknown, made her singing début in Paris. The audience, dazzled by the brilliant, passionate yet compassionate apparition before them, was stunned. Read more...
MAGIDA EL ROUMI
Internationally recognized as one of the most influential singers in the Middle East and Arab World. Magida El Roumi comes from Beirut and first gained fame by winning the gold medal in musical talent show Studio El Fan in 1974, since which time she has had a place in the hearts of the.. Read More...
KADIM (Kazem) AL SAHIR
Iraqi born Arab artist Kadim Al-Sahir has reshaped the face of Arabic music today. He paddled against the prevalent current and founded his own distinguished and sophisticated artistic line. He’s an innovator who creates his music from within. The outcome is hard to define into an existent music category. Read more...
VOICES OF AFGHANISTAN
Ustad Farida Mahwash, vocals
Homayoun Sakhi, rubâb, vocals, musical director
Abbos Kosimov, doyra (frame drum)
Khalil Ragheb, harmonium
Pervez Sakhi, tula (flute)
Ezmarrai Aref, tabla
Voices of Afghanistan is a traditional Afghan musical ensemble showcasing some of the finest musicians from Central Asia and Afghanistan. Legendary Afghan songstress Ustad Farida Mahwash is accompanied by rubâb master Homayoun Sakhi. Read more...
YARA LAPIDUS
“JUST A DREAM AWAY”
Blessed with a voice that has inspiredcomparisons to“a sigh,” “melting honey,”and “awarm breeze through a cedar forest atmoonlight,”French-Lebanese singer Yara enchants allthose who hear her. Herself-penned lyrics tell of love and its origins in desire, loneliness, and obsession. Her spacious, largely acousticmusic can beepic or spare, but always in service to her extraordinary voice.