Concerts & Events

“This singer is the musical child of Umm Kulthum, Paco de Lucia, and Ella Fitzgerald. Siraj possesses a strong, flexible voice perfect for negotiating the quarter-tones of both traditional and contemporary Arab music, adding Andalusian flavors from classical music to flamenco, and dipping into pop and bossa nova” - The Village Voice

Named Jordan's Musical Ambassadress, Jordanian virtuoso Farah Siraj balances a career that spans the US, Europe, and the Middle East. Farah has performed at some of the world's most prestigious platforms, including the UN, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Lincoln Center in New York, MTV, Good Morning Live, MBC TV in the Middle East and the Antena de Oro Awards of Spain. Farah represents Jordan annually on UN World Peace Day and is an honorary board member of the World Music Institute in New York.

After the release of her first album, Nomad (2011) Farah presented the world premiere of her new work, entitled The Arabian Jazz Project, featuring original compositions and traditional Middle Eastern tunes set to a jazz context. She currently leads an ethnically diverse quintet of Arabian Flamenco Jazz, with world-class musicians from the Middle East, Europe, the US and South America, including music from all four regions.

https://farahsiraj.com/

Karim Nagi & Huzam Ensemble

Huzam Ensemble features new compositions in traditional Arab music styles. Egyptian percussionist and composer Karim Nagi leads this skilled ensemble of master Chicago musicians hailing from Egypt, Syria, and Palestine. Using authentic acoustic instruments, the group will feature Nagi's original compositions and songs, along with some classic Arab repertoire. In this concert, listeners can experience Arab tradition's connection to the intimate ensemble aesthetic of chamber music, the microtonal and hetero-phonic timelessness of early music, and the extemporaneous adventurism of jazz.