SONGS OF THE SPIRIT CONCERT SERIES

Pir Shabda Kahn

Shabda Kahn is the pir (spiritual director) of Sufi Ruhaniat International, the lineage tracing from Hazrat Inayat Khan and Murshid Samuel Lewis. Since 1972, he has also been the disciple of the late Pandit Pran Nath, the North Indian classical master vocalist who planted the 800-year-old oral tradition of Chisti Sufi Vocal Music in the Western world. Shabda has performed nationally and internationally, including at New York City’s St. John the Divine Cathedral, New Music America in Chicago, and at Delhi University Music School, as well as for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He is one of a handful of Americans who have dedicated themselves to carrying on the legacy of the treasure of North Indian classical vocal music.

Shabda Kahn is also leading a Public Programs workshop, Raga Singing as Spiritual Practice.

Sandor Diabankouezi and The Kouyate Twins

Sandor Diabankouezi is a master Congolese dancer, choreographer, and drummer. He was the artistic director of Les Bantus Sissa Kongo, a company of dancers and musicians dedicated to the preservation of Congolese culture. He directed the Ballet National du Congo and choreographed for Fua Dia Congo from 1960-1986. Sandor’s program encourages the understanding of his cultural traditions through music and dance. Sandor will demonstrate the musical traditions of Congolese drums and other percussion instruments, exploring rhythmic patterns and musical dynamics through listening.

The Kouyate Twins come from a long family line of “Griots” (known as storytellers of history). The families lineage starts in Mali and expands to Senegal, West Africa where the twins were raised and learned there families history through song and dance. The duo has toured all over the globe as lead dancers with the National Ballet of Senegal and various famous African Artists such as: Yousour Ndour, Ami Koita and Baaba Maal to name a few. The duo is promoting their new cd Sekhou Senegal throughout the United States, parts of West Africa and most recently Paris and Germany which was a huge success. Djialy Kunda Kouyate consist of the twins and six bands members playing traditional African instruments like the Balaphone, Kora , Djembe/Sabar drum, tama (talking drum), with an added modern flare the bass, keyboard and percussion drums. Along with performing, they teach beginning to advanced dance levels in West African dance from children to adults. Their flare has amazed many audiences with spectacular high-impact dance movements and traditional African melody. The group is definitely defined as an array of cultural history and superb musical talent.

Hamza El Din

Hamza El Din was born in Nubia, Egypt, and is considered the father of modern Nubian music. As a young man, he traveled by donkey to collect songs of his native land, before they would be lost under the rising waters of Lake Nasser and the Aswan Dam. Performing on the oud (the Arabian short-necked lute) and the tar (the ancient single-skinned frame drum of the upper Nile), along with his gentle voice and original compositions, Hamza combines the subtleties of Arabic music with the indigenous music of his native Nubia. He has single-handedly forged a new music, essentially a Nubian/Arabic fusion, but one both in line with tradition and informed by Western conservatory training. His music has captured the interest of listeners worldwide.

Ya Elah and the Moh Alileche Ensemble

Ya Elah is an exciting new spiritual music ensemble based in the Jewish tradition. Ya Elah’s music endeavors to inspire compassion and unity between diverse faiths and cultures through its settings of sacred texts and poetry. This ensemble of female vocalists and multifaceted instrumentalists performs the original compositions of Artistic Director Bon Singer. Ya Elah’s music sparkles with the influences of Bulgarian village songs, Middle Eastern melodies, and Medieval Choral works. Texts are drawn primarily from Jewish sources but also from the rich poetry and liturgy of other spiritual traditions. The members of Ya Elah offer a wide palate of musical experience and expression. The vocalists have backgrounds in cantorial, folk, jazz, and various ethnic and classical styles. The instrumentalists are internationally acclaimed in their respective fields. Their vast array of instruments includes the ’ud, vielle, violin, saz, Persian sehtar and santur, medieval harp, ney and bansuri flute, psaltery and numerous Middle Eastern hand drums and percussion instruments. Artistic Director Bon Singer is best known for her work with the internationally renowned vocal ensemble, Kitka. She served as Artistic Director, composer, arranger, and a singer for the group for 14 years. She is recognized as the foremost director of Bulgarian Choral Music in America.

Ms. Singer combines her expertise in music from various parts of the world with her Jewish knowledge and her yearning to promote global unity, the harmony of all faiths, to create the music of Ya Elah. Ya Elah offers full concerts and workshops of music with rich textures in harmony, rhythm, instrumentation, and improvisation. Audience participation is often encouraged as Ya Elah seeks to move and inspire its audiences, not merely to entertain them. “The sound of Ya Elah is like honey in your ears: They will awaken you. Your toes will tap, your head will sway, and your soul will sing. Rush to see these magnificent Sirens!”-Jueli Garfinkle, Author of Everyday Adventures for the Soul.

Moh Alileche Ensemble: Born in 1959 in the mountainous Berber region of Algeria called Kabylia, Moh Alileche has nurtured his love for music since childhood. At age nine, Moh taught himself to play traditional Amazigh (Berber) music on a hand-held, single-stringed instrument made out of an oil can. As a young adult, Moh’s talent led him to the traditional North African mondol, a 10 double silk-stringed instrument which is a larger version of the mandolin. In a multilingual Algeria, Moh’s music became an important way for him to communicate in his native Tamazight language. His initial performances were at weddings and he quickly became respected locally as a musician, vocalist and songwriter. Since moving to the States in 1990, Moh’s music has received great reception and praise both in the US and abroad. His music can now be heard on over fifty radio stations in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia.