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Upcoming Concert...
IRAN AND AMERICA MAKE MUSIC" MELDING EAST-WEST SOUNDS
Tagline:
March 9 - Santa Ana March 10 - Los Angeles
Host:
The Levantine Center
Type:
Music/Arts - Concert
Time and PlaceDate:
Friday, March 9, 2007
Time:
8:00pm - 11:00pm
Location:
OC Pavilion
Street:
801 N. Main St (map)
City:
Santa Ana, CA
Contact InfoPhone:
866.468.3399
Description
IRAN AND AMERICA MAKE MUSIC" MELDING EAST-WEST SOUNDS
WITH LEGENDARY ROCK-JAZZ & PERSIAN PERFORMERS
Legendary drummer and founding member of the Doors, John Densmore, has co-created a new sound that fuses the exotic music of Iran with western instrumentation, performing with master musician Reza Derakshani (vocals, tar, setar, kamancheh and ney). Haunting and spiritual, driving and hypnotic, The Reza Derakshani-John Densmore Group is premiering their music in Southern California on March 9 and 10, with "Iran and America Make Music" shows at the OC Pavilion and the Wilshire Ebell Theatre. The line-up includes the Brazilian-trained Armenian/Italian world percussionist Cristina Berrio and Cuban bass player Carlitos Del Puerto, with American Dennis Hamm on keyboards. "We've got a global village going here," says Densmore, who created the world jazz ensemble Tribal Jazz. He also cofounded the group The Reluctant Gurus, which will open the Los Angeles concert featuring Jordanian oud master/percussionist Hani Naser and vocalist Donna Delory, who regularly tours with Madonna.
The Derakshani-Densmore Group first performed together live at the Kennedy Center in the summer of 2006, going on to sold-out performances in Toronto and Montreal. They billed the first tour as "Peaceful Sounds From the Axis of Evil," in part to counter hostility between their respective governments. "This is a beautiful hybrid between two countries that are turning more and more bellicose," says Densmore. "We're not politicians, but I wanted Americans to see the face and hear the sounds of the Iranian people."
Their collaboration is born of respect and mutual admiration of the power of music to bridge national-cultural differences. Densmore met his Iranian partner a few years ago at a conference hosted by poet Robert Bly. Immediately struck by Reza's charisma and talent, and the Iranian's shy demeanor, he later sought him out at his New York apartment. Playing together, Densmore knew he was in the presence of something special, "that Reza was "a singer of unique and transcendent power." Given that Densmore first gained fame drumming behind Jim Morrison in the Doors, that's quite a compliment. Their impromptu jam led to "Ray of the Wine" (Stonemountain Entertainment), an album of Reza's songs produced and arranged by Densmore. "The Iranian leadership recently banned western music, and here we are making music that combines classic Persian sounds with jazz, folk and rock."
Dancing in public has been banned in Iran since the mullahs took over the student-led revolution in 1979, which is one reason why the March 9 and 10 "Iran and America Make Music" concerts will open with contemporary and mystical Persian dance from the Ney Nava Dance Theatre. The artistic director and choreographer of Ney Nava, Shida Pegahi, has been an outspoken advocate for artistic freedom since she arrived in Los Angeles in the 1980s. The master of ceremonies is Peter Shahriari, the stand-up comedian who stars in The Sultans of Satire comedy series; with degrees in political science and law from UCLA, Shahriari is perfectly suited to host the shows with his unique brand of humor, sending up the stereotypes Americans hold about Iran?and those Iranians may harbor about Americans.
"Iran and America" is coproduced by Levantine Cultural Center, Los Angeles' pan-cultural center for contemporary arts of the Middle East, and produced by veteran Doors promoter Richard Linnell. It is cosponsored in Los Angeles by Namak Magazine and in Orange County by OCPC Magazine.
"Iran and America Make Music: The Reza Derakshani-John Densmore Group," Fri., March 9, 8 pm, OC Pavilion, 801 N. Main St. Santa Ana; Sat., March 10, Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 7:30 pm, 4401 W. 8th St., Los Angeles 90005. Tix $25-$65, available online at ticketweb.com, or call 866.468.3399, or online at levantinecenter.org or call 310.559.5544.
Get tickets online now at www.levantinecenter
.org/pages/iran_america.ht
ml
Tagline:
March 9 - Santa Ana March 10 - Los Angeles
Host:
The Levantine Center
Type:
Music/Arts - Concert
Time and PlaceDate:
Friday, March 9, 2007
Time:
8:00pm - 11:00pm
Location:
OC Pavilion
Street:
801 N. Main St (map)
City:
Santa Ana, CA
Contact InfoPhone:
866.468.3399
Description
IRAN AND AMERICA MAKE MUSIC" MELDING EAST-WEST SOUNDS
WITH LEGENDARY ROCK-JAZZ & PERSIAN PERFORMERS
Legendary drummer and founding member of the Doors, John Densmore, has co-created a new sound that fuses the exotic music of Iran with western instrumentation, performing with master musician Reza Derakshani (vocals, tar, setar, kamancheh and ney). Haunting and spiritual, driving and hypnotic, The Reza Derakshani-John Densmore Group is premiering their music in Southern California on March 9 and 10, with "Iran and America Make Music" shows at the OC Pavilion and the Wilshire Ebell Theatre. The line-up includes the Brazilian-trained Armenian/Italian world percussionist Cristina Berrio and Cuban bass player Carlitos Del Puerto, with American Dennis Hamm on keyboards. "We've got a global village going here," says Densmore, who created the world jazz ensemble Tribal Jazz. He also cofounded the group The Reluctant Gurus, which will open the Los Angeles concert featuring Jordanian oud master/percussionist Hani Naser and vocalist Donna Delory, who regularly tours with Madonna.
The Derakshani-Densmore Group first performed together live at the Kennedy Center in the summer of 2006, going on to sold-out performances in Toronto and Montreal. They billed the first tour as "Peaceful Sounds From the Axis of Evil," in part to counter hostility between their respective governments. "This is a beautiful hybrid between two countries that are turning more and more bellicose," says Densmore. "We're not politicians, but I wanted Americans to see the face and hear the sounds of the Iranian people."
Their collaboration is born of respect and mutual admiration of the power of music to bridge national-cultural differences. Densmore met his Iranian partner a few years ago at a conference hosted by poet Robert Bly. Immediately struck by Reza's charisma and talent, and the Iranian's shy demeanor, he later sought him out at his New York apartment. Playing together, Densmore knew he was in the presence of something special, "that Reza was "a singer of unique and transcendent power." Given that Densmore first gained fame drumming behind Jim Morrison in the Doors, that's quite a compliment. Their impromptu jam led to "Ray of the Wine" (Stonemountain Entertainment), an album of Reza's songs produced and arranged by Densmore. "The Iranian leadership recently banned western music, and here we are making music that combines classic Persian sounds with jazz, folk and rock."
Dancing in public has been banned in Iran since the mullahs took over the student-led revolution in 1979, which is one reason why the March 9 and 10 "Iran and America Make Music" concerts will open with contemporary and mystical Persian dance from the Ney Nava Dance Theatre. The artistic director and choreographer of Ney Nava, Shida Pegahi, has been an outspoken advocate for artistic freedom since she arrived in Los Angeles in the 1980s. The master of ceremonies is Peter Shahriari, the stand-up comedian who stars in The Sultans of Satire comedy series; with degrees in political science and law from UCLA, Shahriari is perfectly suited to host the shows with his unique brand of humor, sending up the stereotypes Americans hold about Iran?and those Iranians may harbor about Americans.
"Iran and America" is coproduced by Levantine Cultural Center, Los Angeles' pan-cultural center for contemporary arts of the Middle East, and produced by veteran Doors promoter Richard Linnell. It is cosponsored in Los Angeles by Namak Magazine and in Orange County by OCPC Magazine.
"Iran and America Make Music: The Reza Derakshani-John Densmore Group," Fri., March 9, 8 pm, OC Pavilion, 801 N. Main St. Santa Ana; Sat., March 10, Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 7:30 pm, 4401 W. 8th St., Los Angeles 90005. Tix $25-$65, available online at ticketweb.com, or call 866.468.3399, or online at levantinecenter.org or call 310.559.5544.
Get tickets online now at www.levantinecenter
.org/pages/iran_america.ht
ml