Saturday, May 17th, 2008
8 PM
GiG - 1808 Second Street
Santa Fe
NM
Price: $20
Rahim AlHaj, virtuoso oud musician and composer, was born in Baghdad, Iraq and began playing the oud (the grandfather of all stringed instruments) at age nine. Early on, it was evident that he had a remarkable talent for playing the oud. Mr. Alhaj studied under the renowned Munir Bashir, considered by many to be the greatest oud player ever, and Salim Abdul Kareem, at the Institute of Music in Baghdad, Iraq. Mr. AlHaj won various awards at the Conservatory and graduated in 1990 with a diploma in composition. He also holds a degree in Arabic Literature from Mustunsariya University in Baghdad. In 1991, after the first Gulf War, Mr. AlHaj was forced to leave Iraq due to his activism against the Saddam Hussein regime and began his life in Jordan and Syria. He moved to the US in 2000 as a political refugee and has resided in Albuquerque, NM ever since.
Mr. AlHaj currently has five CDs. His latest, “Home Again” Fast Horse Recordings, touching and evocative original compositions portraying his trip to Iraq after 13 years in exile, and “When the Soul is Settled: Music of Iraq,” produced by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings was released in June 2006 at a performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Don Heckman, reviewing the CD for the Los Angeles Times, wrote: Alhaj's spontaneous inventions are constantly fascinating — a convincing affirmation of the rich culture of an embattled area of the world." (January 7, 2007). “Friendship: Oud and Sadaqa String Quartet,” a unique musical collaboration between East and West, was released in December 2005 on Fast Horse Recordings label and received two Grammy nominations. “The Second Baghdad,” (2002) and “Iraqi Music in a Time of War”, (2003) are both produced by VoxLox Records. His plans for 2008 CD titled “lingua franca” a flamenco guitar/oud CD with Ottmar Liebert, Jon Gagan and Barrett Martin.
Rahim won the Albuquerque Arts Alliance Bravo Award 2003 for Excellence in Music and was dubbed: “The Prophet with an Oud” by a music reviewer at the College of William and Mary. There have been a number of recent national articles about his life and musical message including in the Smithsonian Magazine (November 2006), Time Out New York Magazine, (December 13, 2006), NPR All Things Considered feature interview, (December 2006), Los Angeles Times Music Review (January 7, 2007), Global Rhythm (January 2007),Times of London (December 2006), Village Voice Top Picks for 2006 and CMJ’s New World Top Ten (February 2007) and a Reuter’s International News article. Mr. AlHaj’s CD’s have become best sellers and are frequently featured on national radio shows and movies worldwide, including the BBC, NPR All Things Considered, ABC National Radio Australia, Amy Goodman’s Democracy Now and NPR’s Studio 360.
Zack Kear, composer and multi-instrumentalist, has a Bachelor of Music Theory and Composition degree from the University of New Mexico which he attended as a Presidential Scholar. He has composed works for a wide range of ensembles and instruments
including orchestra, wind band, chamber groups, solo keyboard, voice and electronics. He also plays many keyboard instruments including the piano, harpsichord, synthesizer, organ, and mallet percussion as well as wind instruments including the western flute, middle-eastern nay, recorders, penny whistle, and clarinet.
Friday, May 23rd, 2008
Bruce Dunlap & Ty Burhoe
8PM
GiG - 1808 Second St.
Santa Fe
NM
Price: Suggested Donation $10-15
Ty Burhoe has been a disciple of the great tabla maestro, Ustad Zakir Hussain, since 1990. From that time forward, Ty has been wholly dedicated to music as a career and as a spiritual path. Through his teacher's inspiration, he has established new territory for the tabla which continues to attract international acclaim. Ty is known for his sensitive accompaniment and melodious style. While his study of the classical tradition and his touring as a classical accompanist continues to grow, he is also internationally recognized for being instrumental in creating unusual collaborations that weave tabla with the traditions of Jazz, African, Flamenco, Rock, Celtic, Chinese, Bluegrass, and fusion. He has become well known not only for his talents as a tabla player, but also for his extensive experience as a recording and live concert producer. In 2004, he created the record label, Tala Records, and since 1994 has run a concert production company called Tala Productions. Ty works with a broad range of artists including Ustad Zakir Hussain, Art Lande, Krishna Das, Curandero (Miguel Espinoza), Ustad Sultan Khan, Tony Furtado, Bela Fleck, Walter Becker, Steve Gorn, Mamadou Diabate, Rick Alan, Howard Levy, Kitaro, Anindo Chatterjee, Roshan Bhartiya, Bill Dougals and many more.
Bruce Dunlap
"His beautifully constructed originals are harmonic in conception, brimming with colorful altered chords that catapult the music into new expressive heights. In the process Dunlap comes up with some unforgettable melodies... The guitarist himself has impressive chops, but you always get the distinct feeling that his virtuosity is in service to the music... Dunlap has created a stirring, intellectually satisfying collection of pieces that have the grace and emotional import of fine poetry." -JAZZIZ
"Acoustic jazz guitar played stunningly well... fascinating new compositions." -Jim Hall
"Dunlap sculpts a dazzling set of originals. Bringing to bear a supple technique and a gently arcing melodicism, Dunlap evokes shimmering portraits... His sound whether on 6,7,9 or 10 string acoustic guitars is likewise mellow and singing, yet always intense. In sum a tour de force, which should put Dunlap in heady company with the likes of Abercrombie, Metheny and Scofield." -Jazz Times
"A most amazing guitarist... Dunlap blew the audience's collective mind with a startling display of virtuosity, technical wizardry, and clarity." Jazz Now
http://www.brucedunlap.com/
Saturday, May 24th, 2008
K. Sridhar & Ty Burhoe
K. Sridhar's music is a unique blend of both the sacred structure and rhythmic complexity of South Indian temple music and the improvisational styling and tonal magic of North Indian classical music. At the age of 12, K. Sridhar became the youngest member ever of Ravi Shankar's orchestral group. He started touring out of India in 1982, particularly under the auspices of Peter Gabriel's non-profit, W.O.M.A.D. Presently, he is the senior most disciple of Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar, a lineage bearer of the Dhrupad style, performing in the West today. Also influenced by Ali Akbar Khan, K. Sridhar has woven together from all of these influences a universally appealing sound.
K. Sridhar has made 12 recordings on European, Middle Eastern, and American labels as well as composed numerous soundtracks for film. However, Sridhar is not just a virtuoso on his instrument, he has that rare ability to really connect with an audience. His music is often described as the kind that "opens our hearts and probes deep into our souls" (Telerama, France). More information can be found at www.sridhar.org.
Thursday, May 29th, 2008
Sam Lunt - Solo Marimba
8PM
GiG - 1808 Second Street
Price: Suggested Donation - $10 -$15
Sam Lunt began playing drums at the age of eight and played in rock bands and school ensembles while growing up. It was in college that he began to explore his passion for music and percussion. He fell in love withe the marimba while studying under James Smith, a talented jazz musician and contemporary composer, at the University of Wyoming. After two years he went on to study with world renowned marimba artist and composer Gordon Stout at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. Here he honed his skills as a percussionist and marimba artist, began composing and studied jazz. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in performance.
After a time in the music business Sam took a break and pursued a career in landscape design. While designing landscapes he always heard music and rhythm in the garden. He began composing music specifically for gardens and eventually received his first commission which he entitled Gardensong - “Tumbling Rocks Flowing Waters.” He aptly renamed his business Gardensong. His love of working with the natural environment brought him back to his music.
Sam Lunt has played percussion and marimba with local bands and has performed with the Orchestra of Santa Fe, Santa Fe Pro Musica and the Desert Chorale. He worked closely with then local composer Jamie Allen and has been an artist in residence for the Santa Fe Opera outreach program.
Today he enjoys a dual career as a musician and composer, and landscape designer. Nature has brought him full circle and continues to inspire.
Saturday, May 31st, 2008
Round Mountain
8 PM
GiG - 1808 Second St
Price: Suggested Donation $10 - $15
"[Round Mountain has] traveled widely and listened carefully. Their original melodies, arrangements and their lyrics in particular demand a similarly high level of listening from us. The rewards are legion... a treasure of sound ... which you'll want to share, as well as treat yourself to." --Songlines Magazine, UK
"Instrumentally adept and lyrically compelling ... should make these guys stars on the Folk festival circuit next summer. In the meantime, I doubt I'll hear a better Folk (or World Fusion) album this year." - Evolution of Media, Virgin Superstore's Indie Buyer
"[Truth and Darkness is] a fascinating album to listen to, and one whose sound will stay with you long after the CD is over... One would have thought that most of the possibilities of a folky trio with acoustic instrumentation would have been exhausted by now. Round Mountain has certainly exploded that notion, and made some memorable
music in the process." - George Graham, Music Director/Host at WVIA-FM, Pennsylvania.
Round Mountain's travels take many forms. From the experience of fatherhood to the lifelong pursuit of music, from shared childhoods in New Mexico to performances all over the world, each is a form of travel that brings a new layer to their latest album Truth and Darkness (Fast Horse Recordings). Through these travels, their background ranges from Balkan and West African styles to traditional Appalachian music, from Celtic to funk. The Rothschild brothers present many extremes -- beautiful acoustic numbers, wild bagpipes, trumpet and accordion played
by one person at the same time, Bulgarian zydeco, klezmer and West African rhythms, to name a few. But while their music is varied, it is far from random. There is a solvent behind all these different dry ingredients that allows them to blend seamlessly: original songwriting with respect and love for their music. This is Round Mountain. Char Rothschild, the elder of the two brothers, gives new life to the word multi-instrumentalist. Over the course of a live
performance, he sings, plays trumpet, guitar, banjo, dobro,
accordion, Irish whistle, gaida (Bulgarian bagpipes) and saz (a type of Turkish lute). Robby Rothschild, the younger of the two, sings, plays cajon (Peruvian/flamenco box drum), djembe, bouzouki, mandolin and kora (West African harp).
Renowned bassist Jon Gagan (upright bass) joins the Rothschild brothers on Truth And Darkness. Known for his work with Liebert, Gagan brings his immaculate musicianship to the band and creates a soulful and rhythmic chemistry with the two brothers. Truth And Darkness is a lively mixture of ceremony and irreverence, of exuberance and reflection. Beneath all of these unlikely marriages, a certain warmth remains to unify their sound and their message. The end result is an overwhelming feeling of kinship. This spirit extends to their live shows -- musical styles, audiences, and the artists themselves are united in a Round Mountain performance. In a time when most music has become so brightly polished that no one can see inside, Round Mountain presents a rare rough gem of humanity that glows from within.
Saturday, June 28th, 2008
Sharon Gilchrist Group
8PM
GiG - 1808 Second Street
Santa Fe
NM
Price: Suggested Donation $10 -$15
Sharon Gilchrist is a singer, song writer and mandolinist living in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
She has performed in a variety of configurations including the Santa Fe bluegrass trio Mary & Mars, the
Bill Hearne Trio, Uncle Earl, Donald Rubenstein, the Peter Rowan and Tony Rice Quartet and the Santa Fe All-Stars.
This summer, Sharon is performing a special series of solo shows. Music will showcase new original material and as well as some classic instrumental pieces
ranging from rugged and raw bluegrass to the new-acoustic genre.
The band features a well-seasoned line-up of musicians
featuring Ezra Bussman (dobro, banjo, fiddle), Abe Streep (fiddle) and Ben Wright (guitar).
Sharon Gilchrist: (with the Peter Rowan/Tony Rice Quartet)
"Though a simple doublenote tremolo-style lead would
suffice, the young woman goes beyond that with ease. Her playing on this tune shows influences of jazz, Western swing, blues and classical music, along with the traditional bluegrass flavor she’s delivered throughout the evening performance. Yet with each lead she takes, something fresh and spontaneous comes forth. By the end of her solo, even Mr. Rice, with a
raised eyebrow, is paying attention." - Bluegrass Now
Magazine. October 2007
www.myspace.com/sharongilchrist