Current Projects as Leader: Near East River Ensemble Group featuring my original arabic-jazz compositions and some traditional pieces from the Arabic classical repertoire. Leanne Darling, viola; Megan Weeder, violin; Danny Zanker, bass; Rami El-Aasser and Timothy Quigley, percussion. Joining us on occasion are Bridget Robbins, nay and flute; Christopher Hoffman, cello; Tareq Abboushi, buzuq.
Other Current Projects: Zikrayat Ensemble Ensemble formed by percussionist Johnny Farraj and violinist/composer Sami Abu Shumays, this group is dedicated to performing traditional Arabic music, both instrumental and vocal. Full of excellent musicians: Tareq Abboushi (buzuq), Sami Abu Shumays (violin), Johnny Farraj (riq, frame drum), Gaida Hinnawi (voice), Dimitri Mikelis (oud), Bridget Robbins (nay), Nikolai Ruskin (percussion, qanun, nay, oud), Zafer Tawil (percussion, oud, violin, voice). For more information, visit the Zikrayat Website. Tamarind Tamarind is a jazz/eastern fusion group led by bassist/composer Michael Bates and featuring the outstanding drummer/percussionist Take Toriyama. Qantara Qantara is the highly acclaimed world-fusion group led by violin/oud virtuoso Simon Shaheen. It features Matt Kilmer (percussion), Bassam Saba (nay, flute), Najib Shaheen (oud), Thomas Bramerie (bass), and Antonio Aban (percussion). I perform with them occasionally on guitar.
Previous Projects: Mahfouz This was a longstanding ensemble I led in New Orleans, before leaving for New York in 2003. It evolved from its original incarnation (1998), playing covers of Rabih Abou-Khalil and Ahmed Abdul Malik tunes to a tight ensemble playing all original music. The following band members comprised the last incarnation: Tommy Sciple (bass), Simon Lott (drums), Bob Garrett (trumpet), Tim Green & Michael Jenner (saxophones) and James Clark (darbukka, riq). This group also resulted in two spin-off projects: Chamber Mahfouz, with Tommy Sciple (bass), Brian Coogan (piano), and Helen Gillet (cello), and Mahlectrafouz, an electrified ensemble with myself on quarter-tone guitar, Tommy Sciple (bass guitar), Simon Lott (drums), Tim Green & Mike Jenner (saxophones), and Brian Coogan (Fender Rhodes). I would particularly like to mention all the musicians who participated and contributed to the evolution of this group: Mark Diflorio (drums), Michael Skinkus (percussion), Hart McNee (flute), Robert Wagner (clarinet), Dave Rebeck (viola), James Singleton (bass), Matt Rhody (violin), Andrew Maclean (Indian tabla), Gilad Roth (saxophone). Prunka Quartet This is a group I formed in 1997 to perform some music I had written to showcase the violin. We recorded an album in 2001, which is available on this web site or from CDBaby.com. Click for sound samples or reviews. Debut recording available. Order Here Featuring Mark Diflorio, Tommy Sciple, and Matt Rhody.
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