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Event
Avaaza
You'll want to move your feet when Vashon Allied Arts' New Works Series brings Avaaza to stage. Influenced by music from the Mediterranean region, including Flamenco, Gypsy, Arabic, Persian and North African, Avazza (Persian for 'voice') is also inspired by music of the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia. The eight-member band includes: Azula Phillips, vocals; Jason Everett, bass; Terri Garrett, clarinet; Charles Reed, guitar; Michael Nageub, flute and keyboard; Tracy Helming, violin; George Sadak, drums; S. Chandra Naraine, percussion. Together the group captures flavors of both traditional and current world music through their own innovative arrangements.
"This concert will combine music that is appropriate to sit and enjoy," says Everett, "everything from meditative to lively." The group, half Islanders and half from Seattle, meets twice a month to rehearse. "We inspire each other; we each bring so many different elements to the music," says Phillips. "We're pushing our creative envelopes. The band's vibe is fantastic, and there's a high level of musicianship," adds Everett. "Covering other composers' music has helped us define our sound."
Azula studied classical vocal training as a mezzo-soprano coloratura. She moved to Europe where she learned to sing in French, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic.
Everett, multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and back-up vocalist, plays stringed and percussive instruments including seven-string fretted and fretless bass guitars and an electric sitar of his own design.
Garrett, professional clarinetist and teacher, is a member of Northwest Sinfonietta and freelances with the Seattle Symphony, Tacoma Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet and more.
Reed has sung and played guitar for three decades, from folk and country to jazz and rock.
Nageub studied nay (Egyptian flute) and keyboard at the University of Helwan Arabic Music Institute, and then performed at the Cairo Opera House for 4 years before moving to Seattle where he teaches.
Tracy Helming received a master's degree in violin performance from the Yale School of Music and has performed with artists from Itzhak Perlman to John Denver. A passionate performer of Middle Eastern dance, she has won numerous national competitions.
Born in Egypt, Geoge Sadak, internationally recognized drummer and Egyptian tabla (doumbek) player, has played professionally for most of his life in a variety of music styles including Middle Eastern, jazz, Balkan and Arabic. S. Chandra Naraine, born in Guyana, South America, plays instruments including the darbukkah (Egyptian tabla), duff, tar, bendir and doira framedrums and Riq.
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LocationBlue Heron Art Center
19704 Vashon Hwy SW
Vashon Island, WA 98070
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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