Rahim Alhaj

Iraqi `oud virtuoso and composer Rahim Alhaj will debut on the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage to kick off a national tour for his new CD of originial works on Smithsonian Folkways Records entitled When the Soul is Settled: Music of Iraq, his fourth album since he arrived in America.

Born in Baghdad, Mr. Alhaj trained in classical Arabic `oud at the prestigious Baghdad Institute under Munir Bashir (whose son Omar Bashir played on the Millennium Stage in 2003). Mr. Alhaj performed extensively throughout the Middle East and Europe, then relocated to the US as a political refugee in 2000. Since then, he has performed at hundreds of venues across the country.

Rahim's concept of cross-cultural bridging and understanding between the West and Arab worlds, as well as his focus on peace and compassion, are most timely. His musical compositions are contemporary yet rooted in traditional Iraqi maqams.

His music has been featured on NPR's Studio 360 and played often on Amy Goodman's Democracy Now!, as well as the documentary XXI Century (2003).

Video:
Smithsonian Global Sound

Photos:
Flickr

CLICK HERE to listen to Rahim Alhaj's performance on the Millennium Stage.

Program:

• Raqs-at al-nakhiil (Dance of the Palm Tree)
• Huluum (Dreams of Iraq's Children)
• Second Baghdad
• Sunset of the City
• Improvisation - traditional taqaasiim from around the Arab World, as demanded by audience:
  • Iraq
  • Syria
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Yemen
  • Palestine
  • Sayyed Darweesh
  • Andalusia
• Horses

Press:
Chamber Music Albuquerque
Roots World
Washington Post
Diplomatic Traffic
University Musical Society
UNM Today
W & M Today

Tour:
September 23, 2006: Colby College (Waterville, ME)
October 8, 2006: Smiths Auditorium (Albuquerque, NM)
October 13, 2006: Coalesce Performance Space (San Luis Obispo, CA)
October 14, 2006: Castoro Cellars (San Luis Obispo, CA)
October 15, 2006: Freight and Salvage (Berkeley, CA)

Discography:
When the Soul is Settled: Music of Iraq (2006)
Friendship: Rahim Alhaj, Oud and Sadaqa String Quartet (2005)
Iraqi Music in a Time of War: Live in NYC (2003)
Second Baghdad (2002)

Official website:
rahimalhaj.com

Thanks:
Katherine Hughes-Fraitekh

June 18, 2006 (Sunday) 6:00 p.m. on the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage

*** co-production, co-marketing by David Chambers

Reza Derakshani + John Densmore

The Kennedy Center presents former Doors' drummer John Densmore and master Persian musician Reza Derakshani for a musical collaboration that is at once haunting and spiritual, driving and hypnotic.

They call their efforts Peaceful Sounds from the Axis of Evil because, as John says, "This as a beautiful hybrid between two countries that are turning more and more bellicose." John explains, We‚'re not politicians, but I wanted Americans to see the face and hear the sounds of the Iranian people... Music is non-verbal. It's direct and right to the heart and we can commiserate through our thoughts and emotions."

With mutual respect and appreciation born of a chance meeting and impromptu jam, the two have produced Ray of the Wine (hyperlink includes audio samples), an album of Reza's songs which John has arranged and produced, combining classic Persian sounds with Jazz, Rock, and Folk.

In addition to music from the album, Reza will recite Rumi, while John will read from selected Iranian blogs in an evening that will start in meditation and end with dancing.

Video: watch in Quicktime format with broadband or dial-up

CLICK HERE to listen to Reza Derakshani and John Densmore perform on the Millennium Stage.

Program:

• Wild Hair
• Ray of the Wine
• Zhaleh
• I'm Back
• Masnavi
• Heart of Fire
• Hey You the Painter
• How Would I Know

Performers:

• Reza Derakshani
• John Densmore
• [forthcoming]

Tour: "Peaceful Sounds From the Axis of Evil"

June 14, 2006, in Washington: Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage
June 16, 2006 in Toronto: Lula Lounge
June 17, 2006 in Montreal: Theatre Le National

Discography:
Ray of Wine (2005)

Official website: Hen House Studios

Thanks to: Harlan Steinberger of Hen House Studios

June 14, 2006 (Wednesday) 6:00-7:00 p.m. on the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage

** co-marketed by David Chambers

Husnu Aydogdu

Turkish musician and conductor Husnu Aydogdu will perform Turkish Folk Music on traditional instruments for his Millennium Stage debut.

His musical career spans more than 30 years. Specializing in the instruments of Turkish folk music, he performed with Turkish Radio Television Corporation (TRT) and Istanbul Radio (now part of TRT's Radio 1) for two decades, while also directing various folk music concert tours in Turkey, England, Poland, France and the U.S. He has instructed folk music orchestras, choir groups, and vocalists. Also, he has conducted extensive research on Turkish folk songs and musical instruments -- designing and developing the creation of two new instruments, Twin Kemane and Head Kemane. He now resides in the U.S.

Joining him will be the Kardelen Turkish Dance Ensemble as well as percussionist Brad Sidwell and dancer Cheryl Sidwell AKA Sidqi & Kostana.

CLICK HERE to watch and listen to Husnu Aydogdu's erformance from the Kennedy Center's Video Archive.

Program:

• Sivas
  • Daglar Seni Delik Delik Delerim
  • Odana Serdim Hali
  • Havalanma Telli Dunam
  • Mehrali Bey Agiti
  • Sivas'in Yollarina
  • Madimah Oylum Oylim


• Gine Dertli Dertli Iniliyorsun


• Zeybek and Teke Zotlatmasi (Southwest Anatolia)
  • Alidaverin Barduma Sacmama (Mugla)
  • Yayla yollarinda yuruyup Gelir (Burdur)


• Regional selection
  • Naz Bari (Azeri)
  • Hava Nagila (Jewish)
  • Emine (Karadeniz/Black Sea)


• Beyond Turkey
  • Yaban Cicegi (Cyprus)
  • Esmerim (Kirkuk/Turkoman)
  • Ay Gibi Yar (European-Turkish)
  • Bende Giderim Paytahta (Diyarbakir)


• Karsilama and Ciftetelli
  • Mevlana (Istanbul)
  • Kadifeden Kesesi (Istanbul)
  • Trakya Karsilamasi (Trakya/Thrace)
  • Yarim Hava (Trakya/Thrace)
  • Merzifon Karsilamasi (Merzifon)


• Playful Selection
  • Tin Tin Tini Mini hanim (Sinop)
  • Bombili Bili Bili Bom (Central Anatolia)


• Eastern Anatolia
  • Yaylanin Cimenine (Trabzon)
  • Kiziroglu Mustafa Bey (Kars)
• 
  
• Central Anatolia
  • Hudayda (Ankara)
  • Sekeroglan (Central Anatolia)
  • Misget (Ankara)


• Karadeniz (Black Sea)
  • Sallama
  • Puskullu
  • Derule
  • Cavuslu


• Final Selection
  • Yildiz Aksamdan Dogarsi (Yozgat)
  • Cicekdagi (Ankara)

Press:
Turkish American Hour
Rappahannock News
Washingtonian
Diplomatic Traffic
RightOnRhythm.com
previous news

Official website: husnuaydogdu.com

June 7, 2006 (Wednesday) 6:00-7:00 p.m. on the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage

** co-marketed by David Chambers