CANCELLED – Chimera: Mythological Modern Music

Due to unforeseen circumstances, this event has been cancelled. If you have already purchased tickets for this event, please note a refund will be issued as soon as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding. Chimera⁠—a mythical being composed of parts from many different animals, often wildly imaginative or dazzling; also a quartet of composers who blend their voices to create emotional and compelling music drawing from Western Classical, Indian, Balkan...
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Karavan Sarai: Silk Road Music Meets Electronics & Dance

Karavan Sarai is a modern-ancient bridge joining global melodies from the Silk Road with its own distinct compositions. Its soundscapes travel from Arabia to India and the Balkans to Persia, rendering the electronics of now with ancient artistry. Listen and you’ll hear the echoes of old world footsteps in the music and behold them in the dancing. Karavan Sarai forges ahead where tracks end.   FEATURING: Narayan Sijan - oud, saz, vocals, electronics Nathalie Tedrick - dance Schirin Cham...
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Lars and in Charge: Turkish Roman & Original Music

High-energy fiddle tunes from Turkey, Greece and beyond, Lars Tergis leads the charge on violin with driving, gritty interpretations of traditional party tunes and his own original compositions. Chris Reid adds a touch of ‘West’ with percussive chordal accompaniment on steel-string guitar. Gopal Slavonic brings his flamenco guitar chops to bear, while Faisal Zedan keeps the beat popping on derbekki, riqq, and davul. Joined on stage by some of the Bay Area’s top dancers, Lars and in Charge delive...
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Sandcatchers / Charming Hostess: Americana & Middle Eastern / Intersection of Voice & Text

NYC-based quartet Sandcatchers blends the Middle Eastern trope of the oud with the dreamy, Americana-influenced textures of the steel. Featuring original music by bandleader Yoshie Fruchter that is inspired both by maqam and the Appalachian trail, Sandcatchers is a beautiful collaboration of sound and souls. Led by Jewlia Eisenberg, the band Charming Hostess shares the night, exploring the intersection of text and the sounding body.   FEATURING: Sandcatchers Yoshie Fruchter - oud Myk F...
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CANCELLED – Dror Sinai: Love Songs of the World

Due to unforeseen circumstances, this event has been cancelled. If you have already purchased tickets for this event, please note a refund will be issued as soon as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding. Dror Sinai takes you on a journey from the Middle East to Turkey, from Egypt to Tunisia, with a visit in Yemen and rest in Morocco. The evening will be elevating, deep, spiritual, healing, and joyful.   ABOUT THE ARTIST: Dror Sinai is an...
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Vince Delgado’s Mid-East Tapestry Ensemble: Middle Eastern Classical & Folk Melodies

Vince Delgado’s Mid-East Tapestry Ensemble plays a diverse array of classical, urban, and folk music from the Arabic-speaking countries, as well as Turkish, Greek, Armenian, and Persian traditions along with original compositions. In a time when there is so much negative perception about the Middle East, the ensemble believes that the aesthetics and variety of these cultures would be of interest to American audiences. There is much beautiful music to be heard from these countries that have been ...
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Yeraz Trio / Saideh & Khatch: An Evening of Armenian, Persian & Arabic Music

Yeraz Trio is a cross-cultural collaborative project that explores traditional and popular music from Armenia and the Levant, adding new, rich, and delectable layers of texture through its distinct instrumentation. Following the journey of band member Khatch’s background and upbringing, the trio weaves together music from Armenia, Lebanon, and Syria, with Eastern European elements. Saideh & Khatch explore an enchanting and soulful blend of Persian and Armenian music in their album, Delbedel. ...
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Rachid Halihal & Faisal Zedan: Arab Music Experience

A collaborative performance between Moroccan musician Rachid Halihal and Syrian musician Faisal Zedan, the evening will include songs and instrumental melodies from different Arab countries, such as Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Iraq, and more.   FEATURING: Rachid Halihal - oud, violin, vocals Faisal Zedan - Arab percussion   ABOUT THE ARTISTS: An accomplished Moroccan singer, oud, and violinist, Rachid Halihal is a classical and folkloric musician with a wealth of experience in perfor...
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Eliyahu Sills & Amir Etemadzadeh: Traditional Sacred Music from the Near East

Eliyahu Sills and Amir Etemadzadeh are musicians of sensitivity, passion, skill, and nuance with years of experience performing. Presented with reverence, soul, and creativity, they will play music from Iran, Turkey, Israel, and the Arabic-speaking world, celebrating the common musical and spiritual heritage of the region's cultures, while honoring the great diversity found within them.   FEATURING: Eliyahu Sills - Turkish & Persian ney, Arabic nai, oud, vocals Amir A Etemadzadeh - tomb...
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Gary Haggerty & Faisal Zedan: Classic & Contemporary Melodies from the Eastern World

Multi-instrumentalist Gary Haggerty and Arab percussionist Faisal Zedan return to the Red Poppy to express the dynamic aspects related to Arab and Middle Eastern drumming and its effect on the melodies performed.   FEATURING: Gary Haggerty - oud, saz, mendochello, tarhu Faisal Zedan - derbakki, riqq, frame drums   ABOUT THE ARTISTS: Gary Haggerty is an accomplished performer and composer who specializes in stringed instruments including the oud, saz, violin, mandolin, setar, m...
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The Project: Stringed Instruments from Around the World

The Project explores Arabic, Turkish, Armenian, Eastern European, Celtic, Medieval, and West African music through original compositions and unexpected instrumentation, including tarhu duets.   FEATURING: Daniel Berkman - kora, percussion Gary Haggerty - oud, tarhu Peter Maund - percussion Sarah Michael - kanun, tarhu Diana Rowan - harps   ABOUT THE ARTISTS: Daniel Berkman is a San Francisco-based composer, multi-instrumentalist, accompanist, singer-songwriter, and electronic...
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Michelle Alany & The Mystics: Sephardic Soul & Balkan Music

Michelle Alany & The Mystics brings fresh interpretations of ancient melodies, hypnotic strings, and wild improvisation with their energizing soulful music. The band consists of seasoned jazz, classical, and globally folk-minded musicians with diverse musical backgrounds in Middle Eastern, Balkan, and Klezmer music.   FEATURING: Michelle Alany - violin, vocals Gregory Masaki Jenkins - clarinet Misha Khalikulov - cello Travis Hendrix - upright bass Faisal Zedan - percussion Andrew Co...
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Sehoda: Coco Vocals, Jazz, and Daf

Priscilla Portes joins David Jacob and Rouzbehan Richard for a tribute to northeastern Brazilian legend Dona Selma do Coco with an evening of vocals, piano and trumpet, and Middle Eastern daf frame drum. Featuring: Priscilla Portes - vocals David Jacob - trumpet and piano Rouzbehan Richard - daf Priscilla met David and Rouzbehan at Berkeley and decided to bring their 10 years of jazz improvisations on a journey to the province of Pernambuco in Brazil. Along this journey, the trio has fu...
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Gari & Faisal: Middle Eastern Melody & Rhythm

Multi-string player Gari Hegedus and Arabic percussionist Faisal Zedan return to the Poppy with a concert of original compositions by Hegedus and traditional instrumental music from various regions in the Middle East. Their focus: Dialogue and interplay between melody and rhythm.   Gari Hegedus began devoting his life to music more than 25 years ago with the study of early European, Celtic, and Bretagne music. From there, he was led east into the intense practice and performance of Turkis...
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Ya Layl: Explorations of the Middle East

Ya Layl presents “Mostly Middle Eastern,” a program of Arabic, Turkish, Armenian, and other music performed by Sarah Michael, Peter Maund, and Suellen Primost. Special guest Niko Bakulich joins the trio for an eclectic evening of lively dance numbers, modal improvisations, American standards, and medieval pilgrim songs. Featuring: Sarah Michael - kanun (Arabic zither) Suellen Primost - cello Peter Maund - percussion Niko Bakulich - bass   Kanun player Sarah Michael has been studyin...
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