Al Karisma Concert

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(oud, percussion, ney), Kylie Faint (kanun), Bahia Sultan (percussion).

Here are a few of the audience responses:

"My friends and I had a great time. The music was wonderful; thank you for organizing it, we certainly need more of these events." —Jalal Bourgana

"This is great Moroccan music!"—Sami Chetrit

"There is no question that the musicians were first rate. However...This feedback comes to you from someone who studied with Jihad Racy and has an M.A. in ethnomusicology from UCLA with a focus on music of the Middle East. I was a little disappointed in the programming, mainly because the violinist (who is a fantastic musician and vocalist) never allowed any of the other members of the group to really shine. In my experience, band members take turns performing the introductory taqsim for each song, thereby showcasing their ability and giving the audience an opportunity to experience the special quality of each instrument. I brought a friend with me who is not very familiar with Arabic music. Her comment, “all the songs sound alike.” Of course, they didn’t all sound alike to me but I can understand her comment since every song began with a violin taqsim. It was very frustrating not having an opportunity to hear the kanuun or oud player perform solos. Souhail is one of the best drummers in the country—it would have been great if he, and the other percussionists, were given a chance to have their 15 minutes of fame. Also, some communication between numbers would have helped, something that Souhail normally does, but the lead seemed determined not to respond to his attempts to engage the audience conversationally...Hearing this music by musicians of this calibre is a rare treat to be savored." —Gail Schwartz

"Thanks for a lovely evening...loved the music. loved the dancing—it inspired me to take belly dancing classes...do you have any contacts for dance classes? I am ready to learn. Again, please more of the same...it touched my soul."
—Linda Muir-Ktiri

To book Al Karisma, contact Jordan Elgrably, 310.559.5544.

Live in Concert:
Al Karisma:
Grooves of Andalusia, Arabia
& North Africa

Saturday, Jan. 22, 2005, 8-11 p.m.

* One Night In Los Angeles Only *

This refreshing group brings together visiting master musician from Morocco, Rachid Halihal, with master percussionist Souhail Kaspar, and multi-instrumentalist Chakib Hilali, and features Kylie Faint on kanun and Bahia Sultan on percussion.

:: Open Dancing • Optional Traditional Dress Encouraged • Open Bar with Lively Reception & Middle Eastern Jewelry Vendors 8-9 pm • Full Show 9 to 11 pm ::

The first half of the program presents vibrant grooves from the Golden Era of Arabic music with vocal and instrumental selections including the likes of Oum Kolthoum, Mohamed Abdul Wahab, and the Rahbani brothers. The second half of the program will present a variety of different styles of music from Morocco and North Africa, including "ala" or music of Andalusia.

Rachid Halihal (vocals, oud, violin)
Rachid brings alive the true character and spirit of music from the classical Egyptian repertoire; from the diverse regions of Morocco; and from the Arabian Gulf. Growing up in Fez, Morocco, at fourteen he entered the Conservatory of Music there to study Western classical and Andalusian music which best features his voice. In addition his strongest instruments are the oud (Arabic lute)and the violin, which he plays in both the classical manner and upright resting on the knee.

The music Rachid presents is soulful and poetic as well as very danceable. He has presented his music in Ivory Coast, Sweden, Finland at the Helsinki International Music Festival, Denver Colorado, New York City at Columbia University with visiting Israeli singer, Michel Cohen, as well as other ethnic concerts and in various Moroccan establishments throughout the city; and Agadir, Morocco, where he fully managed a night club, his own band, and folkloric troupe for seven years. He then accompanied on his violin, the best known Arabian singer Mohamed Abdo, in the Arabian Gulf for two years.

Souhail Kaspar (percussion)
Souhail Kaspar is a master percussionist, known worldwide for his virtuoso technique, exciting performances and teaching skills. Souhail's ability to improvise and embellish the rhythmic patterns of Arabic music, as well as his knowledge of ethnic musical history, have made him one of the most highlysought-after performers and instructors of our day.

Born in Lebanon and trained at Nadi al-Fonun al-Arabia (Conservatory of Traditional Arabic Music) in Aleppo, Syria, he excelled in both classical and ethnic rhythmic patterns and techniques, and received a Degree in Classical Arabic Performance. He has traveled extensively during his 35-year career and has performed with artists such as Sting and Kenny Burrell, and with Arabic superstars such as Sabah, Cheb Mami, George Wassouf, Ragheb Alama, Kathem al-Saher, and Faiza Ahmed. Additionally, he has an impressive body of recorded work, including credits on the soundtracks for the movies “The Prince of Egypt” and “Sinbad,” the documentary “The Great Bazaars” and as a guest percussionist with the cutting-edge Kronos Quartet on the CD “Caravan.” Since the late 1970s, Mr. Kaspar has also appeared with Dr. A. J. Racy at a wide variety of cultural events and performed in major concert halls, master classes, and workshops throughout the United States. He has worked with legendary Egyptian composers Farid el-Atrash, Sayyed Makowi, and Hanni Mehanna. Mr. Kaspar is a recipient of a Durfee Music Fellowship given to master musicians and teachers.

Currently, Souhail lives in Los Angeles and is performs, records and teaches both nationally and internationally. His most recent recording is the acclaimed “Khaliji” CD, a collection of popular songs from the Saudi Arabian pensinsula. In October of 2004, he released the new Souhail Kaspar instructional DVD, “Foundations of Arabic Rhythms with Souhail Kaspar Master Class at Home Series, Vol. I,” bringing his highly popular teaching style to students everywhere.


Chakib Hilali (oud, percussion, ney)
Chakib Hilali grew up in Casablanca, Morocco, born into a family of musicians and athletes. While in Morocco he founded a small ensemble, and also performed in an Arabic orchestra called Ferqat al Maqarifa. He was studying oud (Arabic lute) at the Conservatory of Music in Casablanca, but his studies were cut short at the age of 21, when he was selected as a winner in the United States Diversity Green Card Lottery, and came to Denver, Colorado to pursue the American dream. He has lived in Colorado for one year, and in that time has performed with local musicians Rachid Halihal, Saltanah Middle Eastern Music Ensemble and Khalil al Tarab, and also performed in concerts with Lebanese percussionist Souhail Kaspar and Israeli artist Yair Dalal, and visiting New York musicians Richard Barsimian and Michal Hess. Chakib’s primarily instrument is oud, but he is also proficient on violin, ney, and on percussion instruments including darbuka, riq and bendir. Arabic classical music, also known as Tarab music, is Chakib’s first musical love, and his goals for 2005 include co-producing a concert in tribute to Oum Kholthoum.

Kylie Faint (kanun)
Kylie Faint began playing darbuka in 1996, and bought a Persian Santur (hammered dulcimer) in 1998. She was fortunate in finding an excellent teacher at the International Music School in Santa Ana, Mrs Soheila Nariman, who is a graduate of the Conservatory of Music in Tehran. In August 1999, she began playing kanun, at the Mendocino Middle Eastern Music and Dance camp, studying under Mimi Spencer. Since then she has played with various groups in California, Texas and Colorado, including Dunya Divani and Sherefe, and has returned three times to the MEMDC camp to study with Halil Karaduman, a master kanun player from Turkey. Since moving to Colorado, she formed the Saltanah Middle Eastern Music Ensemble, a seven member traditional music ensemble that has produced several concerts in Colorado and other states.


Bahia Sultan (percussion, dance)
Bahia Sultan, dancer, instructor and percussionist, upholds the classical traditions of the dance style known as Raqs al-Sharqi (dance of the East). Under the tutelage of master percussionist Souhail Kaspar, Bahia has gained extensive knowledge of the traditional methods for presenting both the rhythms and the melody through dance to give a complete visual experience of the music.

Included in her dance resume are shows for: the Brazilian Consulate, the 100th Anniversary Show of “El Show de Paul Rodriguez” and the Ms. Fitness USA television show. She has performed percussion with: Souhail Kaspar, Dr. Ali Jihad Racy & the UCLA Middle Eastern Ensemble, Fouad Jarcheh, Master Violinist, John Bilezikjian, Master Oudist and at the Middle East Music & Dance Camp in Mendocino, CA.


What: January concert with the Al Karisma, Grooves of Andalusia, Arabia and North Africa Ensemble

When: Saturday, Jan. 22, 2005, 8-11 p.m.

Where: Venice United Methodist Church, 1020 Victoria Avenue, at the corner of Lincoln Blvd., Venice 90291. Street parking. Advanced info phone: 310.559.5544. Phone day of concert: 310.402.6469. Click here to view a map.

Directions: From the 10 Freeway, exit at Lincoln, go south to Victoria (two blocks north of Venice Blvd.), turn left

Tickets: $20 Preferred (includes one drink), $15 General Admission. LCC members receive $3 off. Advanced purchase recommended. You may also purchase tickets at the door [cash only].

ALL TICKETS WILL BE HELD AT WILL CALL UNDER YOUR LAST NAME.

Purchase seats by clicking on either of the buttons below. Once you are signed into Paypal [YOU CAN PURCHASE TICKETS EVEN WITHOUT A PAYPAL ACCOUNT], we will have your full name, address and email address. You will specify the amount of total purchase, not the number of tickets, which we can deduce by the amount of your payment. You will receive an email confirmation from us.

Click below for Preferred Seats, front section seating, $20 (includes one drink):

Click below for General Seating, $15

You may also purchase seats in advance by check made to:

Levantine Center
8424A Santa Monica Blvd., N. 789
West Hollywood, CA. 90069

Last postmark date for receipt is Jan. 18, 2005. ALL TICKETS WILL BE HELD AT WILL CALL UNDER YOUR LAST NAME.

You may also purchase tickets at the door [cash only].


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