Janam: Transcendent Balkan & Near Eastern Blend

Janam (“my soul”) creates a compelling mix of Balkan, Turkish, Sephardic and American Roots music & originals. Led by golden throated Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble veteran Juliana Graffagna, Janam proves that the foothills of the Balkans and the Appalachians lie in Oakland. Janam’s funky meters, bittersweet modes, driving tunes, and sultry ballads invoke the nightingales and dark eyes, the hot love and cold hollows of Europe and America’s most musical mountains. Janam unites the Bay Area’s most imaginative and devoted practitioners of Balkan & Near Eastern music, to follow the universal threads of folk songs of disparate traditions. The resulting music is transcendent, sensuous and irresistible.
Juliana Graffagna: vocals, percussion
Dan Auvil: percussion, vocals
Tom Farris: laouto, guitar, accordion
Gari Hegedus: violin, oud, saz, mandocello
Peter Jaques: clarinet, ney, vocals
“An innovative ensemble that explores a dizzying range of styles, from Appalachia and Asia Minor to Eastern Europe. The quintet plays swirling, hard-driving music that always seems to end up in unexpected places.” – San Francisco Chronicle

“This fine group goes on a world tour of Eastern Europe…with no cultural jet lag.” -Santa Barbara Independent

“They’re a band to watch, with some sterling musicianship and a real sense of fervour about them.” – Sing Out!
http://www.janamband.com

http://www.facebook.com/janamband

http://cdbaby.com/cd/janam

http://soundcloud.com/peterjaques/janam-poulaki-xeno

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTSC7BENkME&feature=channel&list=UL

Doors at 7:30 pm. Show at 8:00 pm.

All ages welcome!