1. Xalam Project & The Mast + Jam session

Date: Monday, February 12, 2012
Time: 7pm – 9pm (jam session 9pm -10pm)
Venue: PIANOS (158 Ludlow St., New York, NY 10002
Ticket: donation
Genre: Middle Eastern music/oud music

Brandon Terzic is an up and coming oud virtuoso who has not only gotten a firm hold on the tradition, but has begun to add to the language and contexts of the instrument. He leads an outstanding lineup of musicians and they will be bringing there world/jazz stylings to the Pianos. The Lineup: BrandonTerciz (oud), Matt Kilmer (percussion), John Shannon (guitar) and Chris Mees (bass).

The Mast “A promising new Brooklyn duo comprised of mesmerizing singer-guitarist Haale and limber percussionist Matt Kilmer.” – TimeOut NY

2. BUTCH MORRIS CONDUCTION

Date: Monday, February 12, 2012
Time: 7:30pm (open rehearsal), 10pm performance
Venue: The Stone (is located at the corner of Avenue C and 2nd Street)
Ticket: $10
Genre: Jazz/improve

Every Monday January through March Lawrence D. Butch Morris introduces, teaches and performe his style of conducting music called conductions at the Stone.

2. John Medeski & Marc Ribot with William Parker and Andrew Cyrille

Date: Thursday, January 16, 2012
Time: 10:30pm
Venue: Le Poisson Rouge (158 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10012, ph: 212- 505-3474 )
Ticket: $15
Genre: Jazz/improve

Auktyon had to cancel this scheduled performance. MARC RIBOT (guitar), JOHN MEDESKI (piano), WILLIAM PARKER (bass) and ANDREW CYRILLE (drums) will perform instead. NO body knows what’s going to happen on stage, but it will be for sure a very interesting jam session of four masters of their own genres.

3. EMEFE / Mokaad / Ms. Lady

Date: Friday, February 17, 2012
Time: 9pm
Venue: 92YTribeca (200 Hudson Street, New York City)
Ticket: $10
Genre: Afro Beat/Funk

EMEFE was created by drummer Miles Arntzen in 2009 to explore and share the Afrobeat music pioneered in the 1970s and 80s by Fela Anikulapo Kuti and carried on today by Antibalas. Likewise, EMEFE draws heavy influence from the funk music of Sly Stone, James Brown and Earth Wind and Fire, as well as hip-hop and neo-soul influences. Mixed with a rock n’ roll edge, the powerful and exciting EMEFE sound never fails to get audiences jumping. EMEFE consists of a drummer, a bassist, two guitarists, a keyboardist, two percussionists and a four-piece horn section. Members of EMEFE have played with and studied with artists such as Antibalas, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Soulive, Charles Bradley, Menahan Street Band, TV on the Radio, Tower of Power, Medeski Martin and Wood, and many more.

Mokaad Founded by Gabriel Garzón-Montano in 2008, Mokaad is a 12-piece group. The ensemble is heavily influenced by the innovations of visionaries such as Sly Stone, Fred Wesley, Stevie Wonder, Prince and the Soulquarians. Based in Brooklyn, Mokaad comes out of the old school. Playing a funk of its own, the ensemble gives props to all that is rhythm and blues, from classic soul and gospel to hip-hop. It’s gonna be a party, people!

Ms. Lady Comprised of members of both EMEFE and Mokaad, Ms. Lady starts the night off by keeping it all in the family.

4. Homayoun Shajarian & Hesar Ensemble

Date: Friday, February 17, 2012
Time: 8:00pm
Venue: Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036, 212-840-2824 )
Tickets: $45, $65
Genre: Persian Classical Music & Flamenco

Homayoun Shajarian is a renowned Persian classical music vocalist, as well as a Tombak and Kamancheh player. He was born (21 May 1975) in Tehran in a music-dedicated family. He is the son of Mohammad Reza Shajarian, who is in turn the grand master vocalist of traditional Persian music. He began studying knowledge of technique and rhythm under supervision of Nasser Farhangfar, master of Tombak, a Persian hand drum, at the age of five. Afterwards, he also continued learning Tombak under Jamshid Mohebbi’s supervision. He commenced learning Persian traditional vocal Avaz at the age of ten, alongside his older sisters under father’s supervision and gained knowledge of Avaz techniques and voice-producing. Simultaneously, he attended Tehran Conservatory of Music and chose Kamancheh as his professional instrument as well as being tutored by Kamran Darogheh and Ardeshir Kamkar. He joined Ava Music Ensemble in 1991. He accompanied father in concerts of Ava Music Ensemble in US, Europe and Iran, playing Tombak. From 1999 on, he started accompanying father also on vocals. He has performed in several famous festivals including: Fez Festival (Morocco), Kölner Philharmonie, Berliner Philharmonie, Royal Festival Hall London, New York World Music Institute and Paris Theatre. His first independent work Nasim-e Vasl, composed by Mohammad Javad Zarrabian, was published on his 28th birthday, in 21 May 2003.

US Concert Tour