We welcome  submissions of short  articles, essays, news  items and  photos for  publication in the  Levantine newsletter.  Please send  your queries  to the editor.

Win a Pair of Tickets to See the Lian Ensemble Oct. 23!

Call us upon reading this with your name, phone number and email address: 310.559.5544. The first three callers will win a pair of tickets!

Combining classical Persian music with innovative world music techniques, the Lian Ensemble has evolved from a traditional, Sufi-style ensemble to an increasingly bolder fusion group. Often vocalizing the poetry of Rumi, Hafez and other classic poets, Lian's repertoire alters from the meditative to the ecstatic, with occasional forays into an almost jazz-like groove. Lian Ensemble was established in 1997 by Pirayeh Pourafar, Houman Pourmehdi and Mahshid Mirzadeh. The group has performed throughout the U.S. and internationally and has had a profound influence on Persian music in Iran and in diaspora.

Don Heckman of the Los Angeles Times noted, "Lian Ensemble is a gifted group with completive compositions and virtuosic performances."

Said John Schneider, of KPFK's "Global Village" (Thursdays), "When Lian Ensemble begins to play, the hues of their exquisite instruments, the mystic poetry, the superb improvisations in Persian, Hindustani, and world/jazz traditions—all of these elements converge, and the subtle alchemy begins to work its magic, generating sparks that have transported their huge audiences time after time."

Lian cofounders Mashid Mirzadeh,  Houman Pourmehdi, Pirayeh Pourafar

Lian's latest album is Light and Fire and, like their previous recordings, is available on their web site.

Their October 23 program features new compositions and improvisations drawing on the rich heritage of Persian classical and mystical music, as well as contemporary and ancient Sufi poetry. The line-up features:

Houman Pourmehdi, Tonbak, Daf, Ney, Percussion Mahshid Mirzadeh, Santur David Johnson, Marimba, Percussion Soleyman Vaseghi, Vocal Behzad Behzadpour, Vocal Ivan Johnson, Bass Randy Gloss, Percussion Andrew Grueschow, Percussion Austin Wrinkle, Percussion Pirayeh Pourafar, Tar

Lian Ensemble, Sat., Oct. 23, 8 pm, Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4401 W. 8th St., L.A. 90004. ADVANCE TICKETS BY PHONE: 310.477-8617. You can also purchase tickets at:
Music Box, 310.473.3466
Q Market, 818.758.9995
Tickets: $100, $75, $50, $40, $30, and $20.

Calendar for October

Stop by our current calendar, to see what's happening around town.

Highlights:

• Avaz International Dance Theatre Gala at the Beverly Hilton, Oct. 12
• Ara Oshagan's "Traces of Identity" photography exhibit continues at Barnsdall
• Stand-up comedian Ahmed Ahmed performs for democracy Oct. 17
• Lian Ensemble in concert at the Wilshire Ebell, Oct. 23

:: LEVANTINE ARABIC SPEAKERS WANTED for LANGNET :: My name is Jane Edwards, and I work for the National Foreign Language Center at the University of Maryland. Currently, we are working on a project called LangNet, which provides adult language learners with interactive online tools to reinforce their foreign language skills. We focus on less commonly taught languages and dialects. This year, we will be working with the Levantine Dialect (Lebanese, Palestinian, Jordanian and Syrian). We are currently looking for several individuals to help us launch the Levantine project. Specifically, we need educated, native Levantine Arabic speakers to create online activities in the Levantine Dialect using the software we provide. We also need Levantine speakers to find authentic Levantine audio passages, to record audio files, and to perform various editing tasks. Most jobs can be done from home. You can find more information on our web site. If you are interested in working with us or if you know a qualified candidate who would be interested in working with us, please contact me via email or telephone at 301.405.9805. Sincerely, Jane A. Edwards Program Coordinator National Foreign Language Center

This newsletter is dedicated to the memory of Algerian-born Jacques Derrida, father of the deconstruction movement, who died in Paris on Oct. 9, 2004. See several articles about Derrida, in French and English:

La mort de Derrida, dans Le Monde
Review of Derrida's last title, Chaque fois unique, la fin du monde, Libération
An introduction to Derrida
Discussion of Derrida and his work, Stanford
Jacques Derrida links

 Have you recently enjoyed a new  book,  movie or concert, attended a  cultural  event or discovered  a new  restaurant  or shop? Share your  thoughts with our  friends in  the  Levantine Café...

Call For Artists:

 Fine Artists
 GALLERY 825/LAAA Open Show  2004
 Juror: James Elaine, Hammer Projects  Curator, Hammer Museum, L.A.
 Submission Deadline: Wed., Oct. 20,  2004 @ 5 pm
 Exhibition Runs: Dec. 11 -Jan. 21,  2005. Reception: Sat., Dec. 11, 6 pm  to 9 pm.
 ELIGIBILITY:Competition open to all  artists living in Southern California.
 Entries must be recent work, last 3  years.
 MEDIA:All media. No craft or  functional art.
 Download the submission form.