The Qadim Ensemble will treat its audience to a blast of beautifully hypnotic Near East music during a concert Tuesday, Feb. 19 at Northeast State Community College.
Show time is 7 p.m. in the Wellmont Regional Center for the Performing Arts on Northeast State's main campus in Blountville. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Admission is free.
Led by Eliyahu Sills, the Qadim (pronounced kah-deem) Ensemble features Rachel Valfer on the oud instrument and lead vocals; Faisal Zedan on Arabic percussion instruments such as the darbukkah, riqq and daf; and Geri Hegedus on Turkish baglama saz, divan saz, persian setar and oud.
Known for his authenticity and soulful musicianship, Sills has been performing music for more than 20 years on multiple instruments, including bansuri (the bamboo flute of India), and Turkish and Arabic ney (the traditional reed flute of the Middle East), the upright bass and electric bass. He has performed and recorded with Ethiopian-born jazz/soul vocalist Meklit Hadero, played world music with Rupa & the April Fishes and made devotional music with the artist Shimshai.
"Qadim," meaning "ancient" as well as "that which will come," is a word found in both the Arabic and Hebrew languages. The ensemble's repertoire includes Arabic, Jewish, Turkish Sufi, Hebrew-Yemenite, Armenian, Greek, Ladino and Moroccan music, celebrating the common musical and spiritual heritage of the region's cultures while honoring the great diversity found within them.
The San Francisco-based band has attracted a growing global audience that responds to its authentic musicianship and timely message of peace and cross-cultural appreciation. The ensemble's latest release, "Songs of the Reed," features the ancient sounds of the ney in simple, pure form. Its CD "Eastern Wind" received rave reviews worldwide, reaching No. 7 on Billboard's World Music charts.
For more information, call (423) 279-7669 or visit www.qadimmusic.com.
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