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Dec. 19 (Sun.), 6-9:30 pm—Holiday Concert with the Naser Musa-Adam del Monte Ensemble & Special Guest Artists

6 pm reception, 7 pm concert
Location: Hollywood United Methodist Church
Address: 6817 Franklin Ave., Hollywood , 90028
Cross Streets: Highland Avenue / Franklin Avenue

Phone: 310.559-5544. Phone day of concert: 310.402.6469.
Admission: $25 Preferred seating, $18 General Seating, $12 Students (i.d.). Levantine members 20% off and church members 20% off. Groups 20% off.
Reserve your tickets online today.
Food and drink reception at 6 pm. Holiday gift vendors.
Wheel Chair Access. Free Parking.
Get Driving Directions

Lory Tatoulian

Suzanne Teng

Gilbert Levy

Houman Pourmehdi

Saleem

THE NASER MUSA-ADAM DEL MONTE ENSEMBLE Features vibrant Arab, Sephardic & Flamenco world music. One night only, a benefit for Levantine Cultural Center.

The Naser Musa-Adam del Monte Ensemble brings together two of the hottest instrumentalists on oud and flamenco guitar, performing fiery Arab, flamenco and Sephardic world music. The group sizzles and will rouse you from your seats. Musa and del Monte are an inspired duo, supported by virtuoso instrumentalists.

Special guests include Armenian comic Lory Tatoulian, along with the stars of Mystic Journey, Suzanne Teng on winds and Gilbert Levy on percussion, and master ney player Houman Pourmehdi, of the Lian Ensemble; and vocalist Saleem.

Artist Bios
A Jordanian of Palestinian descent, singer/songwriter NASER MUSA started playing oud, a Middle Eastern lute, at an early age while living in Amman, Jordan. In addition to the oud, he also studied singing Arabic music. He moved to the United States in 1982 and earned a degree in music from California Polytechnic University, Pomona. He has performed widely in the U.S. and the Middle East, and released two of his own CDs in addition to performing on several other recordings as a valued studio musician.

One of the leading flamenco and classical guitarists/composers of his time, Israeli-born, Spanish-raised ADAM DEL MONTE has made it his life mission to fully express himself in these two genres, transcending labeling and convention. Always having incorporated a wide variety of musical styles from around the world into his compositions, he has performed for the last 20 years in Spain, England, France, Switzerland and the U.S.

Guest Artist Bios
LORY TATOULIAN is an actress and playwright whose work explores issues of cultural identity, gender, and ethnic community dynamics. Tatoulian's comedic character-studies define the core of her style. Her explorations take root in theatrical monologues that meld the comedic and absurd experiences of several ethnic groups and social milieus. Her character portraits range from an Armenian waxing lady in Glendale to a French Supermodel who wants to help democratize the world, to a hapless jazz singer from Russia, to a Californian car addict who contemplates her free-will on the freeway. Using the stage as her conceptual loom, Tatoulian weaves a dazzling fabric of stories, vignettes, and swatches of sardonic wit. Tatoulian recently ended the seven city tour of her one-woman show, “Sitting Twisted, Talking Straight”, which won Lory her New York Off-Broadway debut. Lory’s other theater experience includes lead and supporting roles in “Lysistrata,” “Joey and Maria’s Comedy Italian Wedding,” “Skirker” and “This Is Not A Pipe Dream.” Lory is currently performing her award winning one–woman show “Autosapiens" which received “Most Outstanding Performance and Writing” at the San Diego Actor’s Alliance Festival at the Lyceum Theater.

SUZANNE TENG and GILBERT LEVY are the leaders of MYSTIC JOURNEY, a contemporary world music band that tours internationally and was just named one of Music Connection Magazine's HOT 100 unsigned bands of the year, for the second year in a row (the only world music band to be listed). They won the INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS best New Age Artist in 2001 and are currently finalists for the same award for 2004 as well as for the best World Music Artist. BILLBOARD MAGAZINE calls their debut recording MYSTIC JOURNEY "Impressive" and selected it as a "Critic's Choice." Their newest release "MILES BEYOND" is receiving extensive radio play and was selected by Public Radio International's show Echoes as one of the TOP10 ALBUMS OF 2003.

HOUMAN POURMEHDI is a master percussionist as well as a great ney player. He is well known for his diverse abilities as a musician, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. The co-founder of the Lian Ensemble, he has performed widely throughout Europe, North America and North Africa. His knowledge of traditional repertoire and intimacy with Sufi world are made to serve a very personal style of interpretation in his compositions. He has recorded many albums with the Lian Ensemble, including most recently "Khake Heyran" ("Bewildered Earth") and is a valued guest artist on other recordings.

SALEEM is a playwright and actor, perhaps best-known for his award-winning play, "Salaam-Shalom." He is also a talented vocalist of Palestinian love songs, a bellydancer and one of the founders of the successful nightclub scene, 1001 Nights. Saleem has devoted a great deal of his time and creative energy toward peace between Palestinians and Israelis.

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