Al-Andalus Ensemble
DATE & TIME: One Show Only: April 9th 7:30pm
LOCATION and CONTACT: Kaul Auditorium, Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd. Portland, OR 97202. Reed College Events http://events.reed.edu/ 503/777-7522, or send an email to cep@reed.edu
Kaul Auditorium, Reed College
Portland, OR
AL-ANDALUS ENSEMBLE
LEGACIES: 711-2011
Experience this vital, energetic and absolutely beautiful performance that unites East and West featuring the Award winning "21 String Trio" of oud, violin and flamenco guitar together with multi-lingual vocals and contemporary Andalusian dance.
Peoples Grammy Award for "Best World Music Song 2009" (selected from 560,000 entries from 163 countries)
VOX Pop Award for "Best Contemporary Classical Album of 2010
"A delightful proposition of exquisite music" (El Pais, Madrid, Spain)
"A perfect soundtrack ushering in the night with an ethereal sweetness"(The Georgia Straight, Vancouver BC)
"Tarik & Julia Banzi create a new musical language that unites the East & West" (Aramco World Magazine)
"Plus qu'un simple spectacle, est une traversée musicale et une invitation au voyage" (Institut Monde Arabe, France)
"A tantalizing love celebration" (The Malay Mail, Malaysia)
CONTACT: Al-Andalus Events: (503) 230-2379 WEB: www.Andalus.com Email: music@andalus.com
TICKET HOTLINE: 1-800-838-3006
Advance Tickets:
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/164338
Tickets are also available at the door.
(A) Reserved $25.00 (B) General $15.00 (C) Students, Green Card Holders $10.00.
WEB Al-Andalus:
Reed Events: http://events.reed.edu/
VIDEO PREVIEW:
http://www.Andalus.com/video.php
Al-Andalus -Ensemble performing in Spain's largest outdoor music festival, "Veranos de la Villa."
Share with the international Al Andalus Ensemble a poignant evening performance "Legacies 711-2011" on April 9th, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. in Kaul Auditorium at Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd. Portland, 97202.
Al-Andalus Ensemble founders Moroccan oudist Tarik Banzi and flamenco guitarist Julia Banzi perform with Grammy-winning Charlie Bisharat (violinist for phenoms Alanis Morissette, The Rolling Stones, Jane's Addiction, Yanni and others); Abu Dhabi-born, Basque contemporary flamenco dancer Laura Dubroca and multi-lingual vocalist Emily Miles to create an emotive tapestry of sight and sound. The ensemble won the VOX POP Award for the "Best Contemporary Classical Album of 2010" and the JPF "People's Grammy Award" for "Best World Music Song of 2009" (selected from over 560,000 songs entered from 163 countries in the world's largest Independent Music Awards). The Al-Andalus Ensemble is steeped in tradition but the group beautifully and soulfully merges classical, jazz and contemporary music with music from the Middle East, North Africa and Spain to create what reviewers have called "a delightful proposition of exquisite music" (El Pais, Madrid, Spain). Historically, Al Andalus was a time when Christians, Jews & Muslims lived in peaceful co-existence (Spain 711-1492). The Al-Andalus Ensemble locates its creative impetus in the rebirth of Al-Andalus in todays cultural landscape.
A fusion between two worlds began 1300 years ago with Tarik ibn Ziyad's crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar in 711. The "Legacies 711-2011" performance is a timely and emotive musical tribute to the 1,300 years of interaction between the East and the West. Acceptance, coexistence and sharing are all focal points for the evening that serves to herald the return of spring and foster new beginnings.
The Al-Andalus Ensemble pushes the boundaries of sonority and texture to bring out performances of wonderful commitment. This collaboration yields a vigorous contemporary World-chamber ensemble that skillfully creates new and original music, retaining the essential soul and spirit of Middle Eastern, North African and European influences while fearlessly exploring new territory.
Performing to universal acclaim through a repertoire that embodies a new sonic vision that embraces our global cultural heritage, they are considered Ambassadors of Goodwill. This season the Al-Andalus Ensemble's international engagements have taken them to Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Holland, Morocco, Malaysia, Spain, Switzerland, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and the United States. Whether performing for such notables as Queen Sofia of Spain or Princess Haifa Al-Saud of Saudia Arabia Al-Andalus gives all audiences that royal treatment. The Al-Andalus Ensemble pursues a singular artistic vision that reminds us that the intricate interplay of diverse voices is the geography of cultural harmony.
Audiences can expect a program with rich and unusual instrumentation. The oud (parent of the Renaissance lute), ney (Arabic reed flute) and darbuka (ceramic drum) are entwined with the warmly emotional violin and punctuated with flamenco guitar to create a "unique, deeply moving music--a development as fruitful as Astor Piazzolla's when he shocked the Argentinean establishment with his "Nuevo Tango" (Ted Gioia critic, author of "History of Jazz"). The concert promises to be a fascinating evening where parallels and contrasts will be drawn between the old and the new. Highlights of the program include contemporary works as well as traditional pieces from Al Andalus, Afghanistan and Iraq. Proud emblems, suspended within sound, each infused with its own poignant expression of nostalgia. The flow of these works, tugs at our heartstrings and inspires affection. The longing for an idealistic time permeates the works and functions as a center of gravity for the program.
The artists of the Al-Andalus Ensemble build a new artistic language that unifies Eastern & Western cultures and generates a work that is rich, layered and socially conscious, expanding the artistic horizons of both experts and novices alike. Further the advancement of international understanding, goodwill & peace by supporting a group that reflects a place and time of international understanding: Al-Andalus.
We would appreciate it greatly if you would please assist us in bringing this unique event to the attention of the public. If you have any questions or require any further information, please contact: Tickets 1-800-838-3006 : https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/164338 Al Andalus Events: www.Andalus.com 503-230-2379 Reed College Events: http://events.reed.edu/ This event is co-sponsored by the Reed College Department of Music, PSU Middle East Studies Center, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, World Affairs Council and KBOO Radio.
ARTIST BIO'S
Tarik Banzi (Oud, ney, darbuka) is "a superbly gifted player" (All Music Guide) was born to an Andalusian family in Tetuan, Morocco and traces his roots back to Al-Andalus. He later lived in Madrid, Spain where he completed his doctoral studies in Fine Arts and collaborated with flamenco-jazz music masters such as Paco de Lucia, Manolo Sanlúcar, Enrique Morente and Jorge Pardo among others.
Charlie Bisharat (Violin) Grammy-winning violinist is often heard with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and has graced the albums of such phenoms as Alanis Morissette, The Rolling Stones, Jane's Addiction, Aerosmith, Yanni, Kitaro, Strunz & Farah, Don Grusin, Oscar Castro-Neves, Shadowfax and John Tesh. Bisharat has been featured in scores of soundtracks from Swordfish, Texas Rangers, Steal Big Steal Little to on-screen performances of Austin Powers Gold Member, The Drew Carey Show and Friends. Lately Charlie's been getting silly playing violin on cartoons, listen for him on "Maroon 5," "Doc Severinsen" and "The Hangover 2."
Julia Banzi (flamenco guitarist) is one of the few female flamenco guitarists worldwide. She lived in Spain for over a decade, studying flamenco with some of Spain's finest guitarists such as Manolo Sanlucar and Isidro Munoz, she holds a Doctorate degree in Ethnomusicology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and teaches guitar at Reed College and Lewis & Clark College.
Laura Dubroca was born in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirites, to Basque parents and later lived in Venezuela, Qatar, Indonesia and France. Laura has received diverse cultural influences from each one of the countries where she has lived. She began classical ballet studies at an early age and soon thereafter studied modern dance and flamenco. She studied with many of Spain's leading choreographers, including Manolo Marin, Milagros Menjibar, Carmen Ledesma and Rafael Campallo as well as Manuela Ríos, Adela Campallo, Juana Amaya, Pastora Galvan and Angeles Gabaldon. Laura lives in Madrid, Spain
Emily Miles (Voice) has emerged as one of Portland's up-and-coming young vocalists. Born in Seattle, she brings a distinctly North American element to the Al Andalus Ensemble, adding American roots and blues influences to the group's multicultural repertoire. Emily offers stirring melodies in many different languages, captivating audiences around the world with her emotive delivery and understated presence. The Oregonian describes her voice as "soulfuldark and breathy, occasionally erupting with raw powerand duende, that ineffable sadness permeating Spanish music
FUN FACTS about Al-Andalus Ensemble and "Legacies 711-2000"
-Gibraltar is the corrupted form of Jabal al-Tariq the mount of Tarik.
-Tarik Banzi is a direct descendant of refugees who fled from the Reconquista (reconquest of Spain, completed by the fall of Granada in 1492). His family is one of the founding families of Tetuan (intent on keeping the centuries-old musical and poetic traditions of Al-Andalus vibrant and alive today.
-Tarik Banzi's students Fain Duenas and Vicente Molino went on the form the famed World Music group Radio Tarifa.
-Julia Banzi is one of a very few female flamenco guitarists worldwide. American singer-songwriter and musician "Elliott" Smith was her guitar student for a spell.
NOTEWORTHY RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1. Al-Andalus Ensemble's most recent album "21 Strings" won the Vox Pop Award for "Best Contemporary Classical Album of 2010" in the 9th annual Independent Music Awards program.
2. Peoples Grammy" Award for the "Best World Music Song 2009." The winning song, title track from their album "Alchemy." The song "Alchemy" features simply oud and flamenco guitar and was selected from over 560,000 songs entered from 163 countries around the world in what is the world's largest Independent Music Awards.
3. SOLD OUT Al-Andalus Ensemble concerts in Kuala Lumpur's Twin Towers Petronas (Malaysia) with their old bandmates Gavin Bondy (Trumpet-Pink Martini), Martin Zarzar (drums/bass Pink Martini) and Anthony Jones (drums, In-Touch, Aaron Meyer). A new addition to the ensemble since last summer is Jorge Pardo (Paco de Lucia sextet).
4. March 23rd 2011, Al-Andalus has been selected to be the musical jewel in the Virginia Military Institute's upcoming "East meets West" event whose speakers include *Gen. Peter Pace, USMC, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Ambassadors of Spain, Morocco and Queen Rania of Jordon among others.
Kaul Auditorium is on the grounds of Reed College (www.Reed.edu). Events Line 503/777-7755 Tea and snacks will be served in advance of the event and at intermission.
Assistance with access: This event is wheelchair accessible. If you require reasonable accommodations or assistance with access, please call conference & events planning, 503/777-7522, or send an email to cep@reed.edu They are sure to make it as easy as possible!