Dec. 2 (Fri.) 9:00 pm—Global Frequency with Naked Rhythm, MC Rai & Antoneus Maximus and the Nuthouze Band

Global Frequency celebrates the official release of "Raivolution" by MC Rai with a night of intense music and dance across every conceivable boundary. The global music culture fuses elements of rock, jazz, rap, hip-hop and instrumentation from local cultures to create a hybrid sound. Naked Rhythm brings Arabic/Indian electronica with its dance beat to the stage; MC Rai is new rai/North African music with a strong rock component; and young Vietnamese Antoine Tran's "Antoneus Maximus & the Nuthouze Band" closes the evening with explosive hip-hop, pulling no punches. Advance tix just $10, and $10 at the door until 10 pm, $15 thereafter. Buy tix here:

NAKED RHYTHM is a collaborative effort between producers/composers Avi Sills and Alex Spurkel advertising itself as "music without borders," and with a vision of mixing ethnic/world grooves with electronica. By seamlessly fusing exotic world music elements with electronic dance beats, Naked Rhythm exposes Western listeners to the sounds of the Middle East, India, Africa, and South America.

Naked Rhythm has performed for Sting, Stevie Wonder, Dianna Ross, Dustin Hoffman, Robert Downey Jr., The Black Eyed Peas and many others. Because Spurkel and Sills are both accomplished drummers there is a heavy emphasis on percussive rhythms. Naked Rhythm has just released 4 tracks on the latest compilation from Caravan Records entitled "Electric Oasis," and is releasing their debut album in December 2005 entitled "Frequency." Alex Spurkel is an electronic/world drummer for acclaimed pioneers Electric Skychurch. He studied ethnomusicology at UCLA. Avi Sills spent six years touring the world as the drummer for the Red Elvises. Visit the Naked Rhythm web site.

A Tunisian-born singer and songwriter, MC Rai began his career at a very early age. As a youth he was immersed in the folk music traditions of "Chaabi" or "Mizoued," as it is known in Tunisia. Today he is creating a new blend of Rai music with other exotic and intriguing musical influences. His voice is memerizing and his up-beat performance invites kinetic movement on the dance floor. Together with Omar Fadel of Egypt, Amir of Israel and others, the group produces a magnificent blend of traditional and postmodern musical vibes.

Born in 1977 in the southern Tunisian city of Gabes. He began performing at an early age, and when only eight years old, he was performing live on the local radio station. In 1995, he began to turn his attention from Chaabi to Rai music, and realized that he could develop a style of Rai distinct from that eminating from Algeria, and infuse it with the traits of his Tunisian music. Over the course of his career, MC Rai has garnered considerable attention in Tunisia, as a result of regular successful performances on radio, and television. Currently he is considered a contemporary of a new generation of Rai singers, such as Faudel, Sawt-el Atlas, and Abdu.

While many of his contemporaries move to France to garner an international audience, MC Rai chose instead to move to San Francisco, to explore the possibility of bringing Rai music to the United States. MC Rai arrived in San Francisco in August of 2000, and has since then gained much attention performing at different clubs and events throughout the Bay Area. He has performed with well-known rai musician Khaled, and appeared on stage with artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez and Michael Franti. He moved to Los Angeles in July 2005. His first release, "Raivolution," hits the stores in November 2005. It was recorded in Los Angeles with producer and composer, Omar Fadel and in San Francisco with producer Jef Stott. An urban eclectic mix of hip-hop breaks, rock, & electronica, "Raivolution" is the next generation of Arabic music. Visit the MC RAI web site.

MC RAI features Omar Fadel on oud and electric guitar, Al Pahanish on drums, Justin Andres on bass, and Amir Efrat on keyboards.

Global Frequency also features young Vietnamese hip-hop artist Antoine Tran, performing as Antoneus Maximum & the Nuthouze Band. As music journalist Michael Abbott writes, "In fact, what began as a three piece consisting of an acoustic guitar, a set of bongos and Tran rhyming, has blossomed into a 16 piece multi-cultural live band including back up singers of every shape, color and size, and the mind and ear boggling human beat boxing and scratching of Spencer Nezey, who is a one man band in himself. With such a large musical collective on stage, you’ll more than often find some of the hottest jam sessions happening on even the smallest of stages. 'There is certainly a structure (to the pieces being played),' says Tran, 'but certain songs, you have to let the band be themselves and explore. When we jam, I let them wild out,' Tran adds. He also writes and produces each song the Nuthouze performs." Read more about Nuthouze and Tran.

This concert is presented by Souk 77, Alchemy Studios and Levantine. Fri, Dec. 2, 9 pm-2 am, at 5920 Blackwelder Street, Culver City 90232 (closest major cross-streets are La Cienega Blvd. and Washington Blvd). Info 310.559.5544.

The Levantine Social Club is open each Wednesday evening, from 6 pm-midnight.

Come on out and relax, play some
chess, backgammon, Scrabble or cards, have some Moroccan tea or Turkish coffee...Open mic from 9 to 11 pm will feature comedy, poets, spoken word and a range of musical performances—invite your talented friends, and get your own material ready!

Each week we give away free movie posters, complementary tickets and other surprises. You'll find fresh talent, and great conversation across the cultural spectrum at the Levantine Social Club.

5920 Blackwelder Street, Culver City 90232. Info 310.559.5544.


Meet Director Hany Abu-Assad of "Paradise Now" at Levantine Center on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2-4 pm, for a film talk free to the public

Director Hany Abu-Assad will come to Levantine Cultural Center on Sun., Nov. 20, 2-4 pm, to talk with filmgoers about his new film "Paradise Now"—the Palestinian entry for Best Foreign
Film of 2005. See the film at your local theatre (check local theatre listings), and meet Hany at the Center. Bring all your questions and comments.

This film talk is free to the public. RSVPs suggested as seating IS limited. Hany Abu-Assad, A Conversation on "Paradise Now" and filmmaking in the West Bank/Israel. Sun., Nov. 20, 2-4 pm, at Levantine Cultural Center, 5920 Blackwelder Street, Culver City 90232. (Closest major cross-streets: La Cienega Blvd. & Washington Blvd.)

RSVPs 310.559.5544 or email info@levantinecenter.org.

"Paradise Now" is the story of two young Palestinian men as they embark upon what may be the last 48 hours of their lives. Winner of multiple prizes at the 2005 Berlin Flim Festival, and warmly received at the Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals, the film has also been invited to the upcoming New York Film Festival. Directed by Hany Abu-Assad ("Ford Transit," "Rana's Wedding"), it stars Kais Nashef, Ali Suliman and Lubna Azaba. The film opens in limited release Oct. 28. Check your local theatre listings.

Read a review of the film by May Alhassen.


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LEVANTINE CULTURAL CENTER
Cultures of the Middle East & Mediterranean
5920 Blackwelder Street, Culver City, CA. 90232
310.559.5544, info@levantinecenter.org

Levantine Center advocates for, educates about, and in general promotes and supports Middle Eastern and Mediterranean contemporary arts and traditional cultures. We present or cosponsor programs of music, literature, art, film/video, publications, new media and more, often from educational and historical perspectives. While acknowledging the value of entertainment, we emphasize scholarship and substance. We are strongly multidisciplinary and non-sectarian, do not embrace any political or religious doctrine, and are committed to the principle of cross-cultural cooperation. We support the strengthening of ties between all cultural, ethnic and religious communities of the Middle East/West Asia/Levant, as well as between all peoples of Middle Eastern descent in diaspora.

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