Tag Archives: the New York Arabic Orchestra

Music listings – 4/16 through 4/22

1. The New York Arabic Orchestra – Spring Concert And Fund Raiser

Date: Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Time: 8:00pm
Venue: Florence Gould Hall (of the French Institute Alliance Française, 55 E 59th St, NY, NY 10022)
Tickets: Ticketmaster.com
Genre: Arabic Classical music

The New York Arabic Orchestra is the home of contemporary and classical Arabic music in America. The orchestra, based in the New York metropolitan area, is an Arabic music institution of performance and education co-founded in 2007 by Bassam Saba, a world renowned multi-instrumentalist virtuoso, conductor and teacher of Arabic music; and April Centrone, the orchestra’s lead percussionist. The orchestra brings together a culturally diverse group of musicians around a common passion: Arabic Music.

The 35-piece New York Arabic Orchestra presents contemporary instrumental compositions by Bassam Saba, along with selections of Arabic vocal and instrumental music of Lebanon, Syria and Egypt. The NYAO is comprised of the oud (Arabic lute), nay (Arabic reed flute), qanun (Arabic zither), Arabic percussion, strings, woodwinds, lead vocalists and chorus. Known throughout the U.S. and abroad as one of Arabic music’s finest conductors, Bassam Saba has led the NYAO to prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and has developed an authentic sound that is regarded around the world.

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“Nu Iranian Vs. Nu Arabic Music” At SoSaLa’s Nu World Trash Cd Release Party in NY!!

Photo by Tasja Keetman

The CD release party for SoSaLa‘s Nu World Trash  is set for March 6 at Manhattan’s Nublu (62 Ave C, between 4th and 5th Street in the Lower East Side. 9pm to 11pm – Ticket: $10), with Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi on sax and vocals, Damon Banks on bass, Michael Wimberly on drums & dembe, and Sinan Gundogdu on oud  and new member Brian Prunka on guitar. Guest appearance by Sylvain Leroux on fula flute who played on three songs in the CD with openers Al-Amar Ensemble.

The Al-Amar Ensemble is a new group to hit the NY scene, assembled by Timba Harris of Secret Chiefs 3 on the heels of his recent move from Seattle, in collaboration with drummer and percussionist, April Centrone (New York Arabic Orchestra, Secret Chiefs 3), and featuring Harris’ longtime colleague / renowned composer Gyan Riley on guitar, and stunning oud player and luthier, John Vergara (NY Arabic Orchestra). The combination is a new avant-garde, marrying Arabic music and tarab with rock, soul, sensuality and intense energy.

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Music listings – 4/4 through 4/10

1. GATO LOCO

Date: Monday, April 4, 2011
Time: 9:30pm
Venue: Barbes (376 9th Street, Brooklyn, NY)
Ticket: $10
Genre:  Cuban Son dance music

GATO LOCO  play arrangements of early Cuban son dance hits from the 1920s-1940s. The quartet plays the great compositions of Ignacio Pinero, Arsenio Rodriguez, Chano Pozo, Quarteto Habanero, Casino De La Playa, Maria Teresa Vera, as well as traditional folk songs, all filtered through subsonic instruments played as delicately as possible. tuba, bari sax, baritone acoustic guitar, and acoustic bass guarantees that you feel the music, rather than hear it. With Stefan Zeniuk (Bari Sax), Ari Folman-Cohen (bass), Joe Exley (tuba), Clifton Hyde (baritone guitar) and Greg Stare (congas).

2. THE FELLOWSHIP BAND

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Bassam Saba and his New York Arabic Orchestra @ Symphony Space this coming Saturday!!!

Text by Jim Hoey

Date: Saturday, February 12, 2011
Time: 8 pm
Venue: Peter Jay Sharp Theatre /Symphony Space (2537 Broadway at 95th Street, New York, NY 10025-6990)
Tickets: $25; Members, Students, Seniors, Children $20; Day of Show $30 – buy tickets
Genre: Arabic tradtional music

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Just as protests around the Arabic world are gaining momentum and causing real change in nations like Egypt, Jordan, and Yemen, the internationally acclaimed New York Arabic Orchestra returns to Symphony Space for its annual winter event.

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