ORIGINAL INDO-AFRO-ARAB-FLAMENCO MUSIC & DANCE
Founded by Veena artiste Saraswathi Ranganathan, the group has been performing for the past 8 years, delighting audiences with lush rustic soundscapes of flamenco music and Afro rhythms woven into the rich sounds of Indian Classical ragas, Turkish Maqams, embellished with blues and folk melodies. Performances often include both music and dance from the Indian, African, Spanish flamenco traditions. Surabhi Ensemble features an outstanding line-up from Chicago’s music / theater scene.
The Surabhi Ensemble continues its Global Peace Tour to India after visiting Vietnam, Spain, Portugal, Senegal and Mexico in recent years. Surabhi Ensemble and it's not-for-profit wing, Ensemble of Ragas School of Performing Arts has a mission of "one stage, one music, one community."
The ensemble has been officially invited to give workshops in underserved communities, concerts in theatrical venues, pop-up performances and festival sets in Pune, Gujarat, Bangalore and Goa in 2024. Please support our work with a donation!
“THE WORLD NEEDS THE MUSIC AND MESSAGE OF THE SURABHI ENSEMBLE. THEIR SELF-TITLED DEBUT IS A CULTURAL TOUCHSTONE BRINGING TOGETHER THE MUSIC OF DIFFERENT GLOBAL CULTURES IN A FREE-WHEELING FOLKSY, JAZZY, JAMMY GOOD TIME...THE INTENT IS A POSITIVE MESSAGE OF TOGETHERNESS.”
TRADITIONAL ARAB MUSIC AND CONTEMPORARY IMPROVISATION
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Chicago Maqam is an ensemble founded by accomplished Middle Eastern solo artists from Egyptian, Palestinian, and Syrian descent living in the Chicagoland area. The core members are Ronnie Malley, Karim Nagi, Issam Rafea, Naeif Rafeh, and Wanees Zarour. They are also frequently accompanied by guest artists. The group came together at the prominent Chicago venue Constellation to volunteer for a relief effort benefiting victims of the 2023 earthquake that devastated Syria and Turkey. Since then, the ensemble has built a following among Chicago’s diverse communities bringing people together from different backgrounds across multiple music genres.
Ronnie Malley is a multi-instrumentalist musician, actor, producer, and educator. With a background in Global Music and Performance Studies, Ronnie has collaborated with artists internationally and has composed and consulted for numerous cultural music projects in film and theater.
Recent theatre credits include: American Griot co-author/composer (Moraine Valley FPAC), Macbeth Hecate/musician (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Great Expectations composer/sound designer (Silk Road Rising), A Disappearing Number musician (Timeline Theatre), Ziryab, The Songbird Of Andalusia author/solo performer (Silk Road Rising), The Secret Garden musician (Court Theatre), The Jungle Book musician/consultant (Goodman, Huntington), The White Snake co- composer/musician (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), The Who And The What composer/co-sound designer (Victory Gardens), The Sultan’s Dilemma associate producer/actor (International Voices Project), and The Arabian Nights musician/actor (Lookingglass). Recent music producer credits include: Lamajamal – Tsikago, Surabhi Ensemble, East Meets Middle East, Aurad Fathiya, The Andalusian Trail (staged production), and The Reminders.
Ronnie has a degree in Global Music Studies from DePaul University and is a teaching artist with Chicago Public Schools, a faculty member at Old Town School of Folk Music, and a guest lecturer at universities. He is an international artist and has performed for programs at the Kennedy Center (DC), Harris Theater (Chicago), Jaipur Literature Festival (India), University of Cordoba (Spain), National Song, Music, and Dance Theatre (Vietnam) and Wuzhen Festival (China), as well as on initiatives for the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, APAP, Arts Midwest, and the Inner-City Muslim Action Network.
He conducts Arabic language artist residencies for Chicago Public Schools through Intercultural Music Production, and is a veteran teaching artist for music and theater with Global Voices Initiative, CAPE Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education and the Old Town School of Folk Music. Ronnie has performed with the music groups Allos Musica, Apollo’s Fire, Diwan Al-Han, EMME East Meets Middle East, Lamajamal, Mucca Pazza, Newberry Consort, Surabhi Ensemble, and the U of C Middle East Music Ensemble.
MUSIC AND DANCE STORYTELLING OF ANDALUSIAN MUSIC & FLAMENCO ROOTS
TAKE AN ENCHANTING MUSICAL JOURNEY FROM 9TH CENTURY ISLAMIC SPAIN TO PRESENT DAY AMERICA
MULITI-GENRE COLLABORATIVE FEATURING AMERICAN ARTISTS FROM THE DIASPORA OF MUSLIM COUNTRIES IMPACTED BY WAR
MIDDLE EASTERN, NORTH AFRICAN, BALKAN, TURKISH, GREEK, SOUTH ASIAN
Lamajamal, a palindrome for jamal, the Arabic word for beauty, is an ensemble that explores classical, folk, and sacred music traditions from around the world. With each member trained in various musical traditions and instruments, the group has an extensive repertoire from the Middle East, North Africa, Balkans, Turkey, Greece, and South Asia. For over ten years, Lamajamal has established itself as a vanguard in the world music market performing at international festivals, renowned venues, interfaith events, as well as houses of worship for Jewish, Christian, and Muslim services. Lamajamal’s core mission is to identify historical and social commonalities among different musical styles, cultures, and religions to foster a sense of global citizenry.
Lamajamal members are also educators of the music traditions they play and have provided all-ages workshops, artist residencies, and lectures at well known institutions including Chicago Public Schools, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, and more. The group’s diverse discography consists of original, folk, and commissioned works ranging from Middle Eastern, North African, and Roma dance music to Turkish classical and sacred repertoire, and even includes an entire album of Kashmiri folk music. From ancient to electronic, Lamajamal’s versatility embodies a creative energy without borders.
“… Lamajamal is a band without borders.”
“Some of the tight harmonies and culturally-mixed lines and phrases stopped me cold...the skill and confidence it takes to be that relaxed playing complex material can only be achieved through much hard effort. What ensemble work!”
“…when they’re on, they’re on, arriving at a fuzzy, garagey take on Roma music thanks to a knack for serpentine grooves and a mean, mean oud player.”
EAST MEETS MIDDLE EAST
What happens when Indian sarod and tabla meet Middle Eastern oud and darbuka?
East Meets Middle East is a musical collective across continents celebrating the rich traditions of the Middle East and South Asia. From India, Subrata Bhattacharya (tabla) and Abhisek Lahiri (sarod) collaborate with Ronnie Malley (Oud) and George Lawler (percussion) to create a cross-cultural palette of improvisations and original compositions. The group transcends boundaries as they move through raga and maqam, tala and iqa, the music theories and rhythms found in South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.
CLASSICAL ARABIC MUSIC FROM EGYPT, SYRIA, AND ANDALUSIA
Diwan al-Han is a Chicago-based music ensemble that performs classical Arabic music and poetry from Andalusia, Egypt, Syria, and other parts of the Middle East and North Africa. The musicians in the group come from various backgrounds including Syria, Palestine, Jordan, and Egypt, and are steeped in the traditional music from these regions having performed with renowned international artists including Sabah Fakhri, Tony Hanna, Kazem al-Saher, Elias Karam, and more. Diwan is the Arabic word for collection of poems, and al-Han, which means local gathering place, is also a synonym for musical compositions. Diwan al-Han’s mission is to preserve the rich heritage of Arabic literature and music, but also to return the classical art form back to the mainstream of Middle Eastern society, as well as elevate it through an innovative perspective for appreciation beyond its geographic origins. Diwan al-Han is: Hani Dahshan (Voice and Qanoun), Ronnie Malley (Oud), Billal Malley (Percussion), Khalil Malley (Percussion), and Naeif Rafeh (Nay).
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Diwan al-Han 2019 Alhambra
Widely regarded as the founding father of Oriental Jazz. Yehya Khalil founded the Cairo Jazz Quartet, the first jazz band in Egyptian history, when he was only 13 years old. Following the band’s great success, Yehya traveled to the United States to pursue his studies in music. In his 15-year long stay, Khalil earned a degree at the American Conservatory of Music and tutored by the legendary percussionist Roy Knapp.
Dubbed by jazz legend Dizzie Gillespie "The greatest percussionist alive, Khalil has earned international recognition for his unique blend of oriental and western sounds." He has played with legendary world artists such as The Four Tops, Eric Clapton, James Brown and Jimi Hendrix.
Yehya Khalil presents a fusion of percussion arrangements with an oriental twist and classical jazz in concerts across the globe. Khalil pioneered the jazz movement in Egypt, and has been creating game-changing music for the past four decades. He continues to re-define jazz, blending world trends with local music.
YouTube | Facebook YehyaKhalilOfficial | Instagram Yehyakhalilofficial | Twitter @YehyaKhalil_
Yehya Khalil Foundation for the Culture of Jazz Music
Spreading the Culture of Jazz Music through concerts, festivals, and the TV & Radio program "The World of Jazz".
The foundation also provides workshops and clinics to educate young people about the culture of jazz generally; and help young talented musicians to improve their level and skills.
2022 Esteemed Artist Awardee by the Individual Artists Program grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events #DCASEgrants.
Yves Francois is a jazz trumpeter and an esteemed artist award recipient from DCASE. His Rocambu Jazz project draws on influences of his family's connection to Tunisia and North Africa and also explores world jazz genres including retro Afro-Caribbean grooves, congas, high life, rumbas, soukous, and New Orleans jazz. Yves honed his skills on the south side of Chicago, by playing alongside jazz legends such as Paul Bascomb, Odie Payne Jr, Eddie Johnson, and his mentor, Franz Jackson. He is a Delmark Records recording artist and will be releasing a new album this year through Intercultural Music Production with funding from DCASE.
Yves Francois was first inspired to be a trumpeter after hearing Louis Armstrong on TV. He honed his craft on Chicago's South Side, and was mentored by jazz legends including Franz Jackson and Paul Bascomb. In 2006, Delmark Records released Blues For Hawk which included his early recordings with Franz, Eddie Johnson and blues drummer Odie Payne. Yves currently gigs around Chicago, including at the Green Mill with Alfonso Ponticelli.
Since 2002 Yves Francois Rocambu Jazz has been entertaining audiences with its intoxicating mix of jazz horns and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. The new CD Viva Rocambu! will be released March 2023.
The CD ¡VIVA ROCAMBU! is now available to buy and is made possible by a grant from DCASE - Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
Support this ensemble and get your copy of ¡VIVA ROCAMBU! on Bandcamp
https://yvesfrancoisrocambujazz.bandcamp.com/album/viva-rocambu
“Yves combines the energy and exuberance of American Jazz with the effervescent dance music of French Africa”
Yves Francois’ ROCAMBU JAZZ is a dance band that formed in 2002, and performs Retro African, Latin and Caribbean grooves.
They explore the rhythms of the African Diaspora such as:
biguine
calypso
conga
rumba
highlife
samba
son
New Orleans
West African
View this profile on InstagramYves François (@yvesrocambu) • Instagram photos and videos
MIDDLE EASTERN ROCK
Baeoa is a cultural movement that uses art and music for social change. The music group was the brainchild of international artists from the Middle East, Egypt, Serbia, and Chicago. Baeoa has a genre-defying sound blending rock, jazz, and classical Middle Eastern music with Arabic and English poetry.
CARLO BASILE
Carlo Basile has a Masters Degree in Classical Guitar Performance from NEIU, and studied for 7 years with Anne Waller (head of the Northwestern University guitar program). Basile travelled to Spain to study flamenco in Andalusia with guitarists Luis Ruiz, Jose Luis Rodriguez, and Flavio Rodriguez.
Basile has visited over 30 countries to perform, teach, and study ethnic music. He has taught Spanish guitar workshops in Chicago as well as Chang Mai (Thailand), Cebu (Philippines), and Hanoi (Vietnam).
Basile’s guitar work has been featured in various commercial radio and television spots. Most recently, Basile has composed and performed music for theater including Steppenwolf and Lookingglass Theaters. Basile was the featured musician in the Lookingglass Theater production of “Rick Bayless in Cascabel.”
Over the past 16 years Carlo has performed Spanish guitar music for patients and staff at various hospitals in the Chicago area. He has worked closely with patients and their families in both public and private areas including Intensive Care, Chemo Therapy, and Surgery waiting areas. Carlo has received many compliments for his personal interaction, skilled performance, and appropriate musical selections over the years. His performances have also included artists from India, Senegal, Taiwan, Japan and Spain in order to provide a cultural diversity and a connection for many patients and staff. Carlo is currently a performing artist and consultant for “music healing arts” at The University of Chicago Hospital.
He has performed and collaborated with noted artists such as Kinan Abou-afach (Syria), Morikeba Kouyate (Senegal), Sara Ranganathan (India), and Flavio Rodriguez (Spain/Brazil).
Over the past 15 years, Basile has worked with Las Guitarras de España, a Spanish guitar-influenced world music ensemble which he founded. The ensemble has released 5 CDs to critical acclaim and has performed throughout the US for concerts, universities and major festivals such as SXSW.
Basile also continued collaborations with Saraswathi Ranganathan (Indian veena), Ronnie Malley (Arabic oud), Morikeba Kouyate (African kora), Chihsuan Yang (Chinese erhu) in the project “Surabhi.” The ensemble performed on several concerts and festivals, composed new music and dance pieces, and planned more studio and live work for the coming year.
ROBERT GARRETT
Bob Garrett is currently a sub for the Chicago version of ‘HAMILTON’, composed and performed the percussion book for the world premiere of Sting's 'LAST SHIP', toured with the national tour of 'THE LION KING' for 4 years, performed in house band for Alan Parsons studio lecture series, a sub for Chicago Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’, co-created (with Ronnie Malley) score for A Diappearing Number- a Timeline Theatre Production, toured/and or performed with: Glen Hansard at Lollapalooza, Chicago Shakspeare Theatre and Victory Garden with director Gary Griffin; S. V. Balakrishna, Trinity Irish Dancers, John Elmquist and Hard Art Group, Redmoon Theatre, produced and performed for Anne Harris, Surabhi, Las Guitarras de España, Chris Siebold & Psycles, AfroCuban folkloric group-Toque Chicago, plus accompanied and or composed for dance companies/choreographers including The Seldoms, Carrie Hanson, Randy Duncan, Alvin Ailey Dance, Urban Bush Woman, Joe Goode, Bill T Jones, Hubbard Street dance co, and Ishti dance company.
Bob is also co-founder(with Nadine Lollino) of Posterchild Art, a multi-disciplinary art company based in Chicago's art district. They've shown their work throughout the U.S. as well as Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica. Recently Bob is focusing on writing for film and commercial and co-created ESCP, an electronic music duo, with violinist/composer Chihsuan Yang.
HANI DAHSHAN
Hani Dahshan is a multi-instrumentalist musician and producer. He performs on qanoun, oud, nay, and voice. Hani attended the National Music Conservatory in Amman, Jordan where he studied Arabic music majoring in voice and oud. He also studied opera singing at the Lebanese National Conservatory, was an apprentice to the renowned Syrian classical singer Sabah Fakhri, and has a degree in film making from SAE Institute in Amman, Jordan. Hani currently resides in Chicago where he is a member of the Diwan Al-Han Ensemble and a guest artist with the University of Chicago Middle East Music Ensemble .
GEORGE LAWLER
Percussionist - Drummer - Producer - Instrument Maker - Composer - Teacher
George Lawler is an accomplished percussionist, drummer, and music producer who has been involved in the Chicago music scene for over 20 yrs. He has been playing drum set for 33 years, and is adept at many genres of percussion, from ancient to electronic, with an emphasis on styles from the Middle East and Mediterranean region. George’s specialization in Middle Eastern, Balkan, Turkish, and Greek percussion began in the mid 90’s as an apprentice to Tunisian percussionist, Najib Bahri, a sublime master of darbuka, (goblet drum), riq, (Arabic tambourine) and bendir, (frame drum). Through this mentorship, George learned the nuances of classical and folkloric drumming styles of the Middle East and North Africa, and also the ingenious teaching method of the Arabic music conservatory. Further exploration into the art of Middle Eastern percussion led George to Istanbul, where he studied under a student of the great darbuka master Misirli Ahmet, inventor of the Turkish “split-finger technique.” He had an in depth immersion into Turkey’s folk, and Roma music when Lamajamal was the backing band for Turkish Clarinet virtuoso Selim Sesler in 2010.
George has performed music in 23 countries, toured the U.S. with Egyptian pop star Natacha Atlas, and toured Europe with Lamajamal, A Hawk and a Hacksaw, and Bobby Conn. He is a founding member of Chicago’s 25 piece punk rock marching band “Mucca Pazza,” and has composed several pieces for the band. George presents percussion workshops at Chicago Public Schools and directs a 33 piece drum line for five schools in North Lawndale. Since 2007, he and his wife, Eve Monzingo have been music directors for the Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society, providing musical instruction and performance for Greek and Balkan folk dance.
RONNIE MALLEY
Ronnie Malley is a multi-instrumentalist musician, theatrical performer, producer, and educator with a background in Global Music and Performance Studies. His recent credits include author and composer of the original play Ziryab, The Songbird of Andalusia, musician in The Secret Garden, musician and consultant on Disney’s theatrical production of The Jungle Book, associate producer, composer, and actor in The Sultan's Dilemma, co-composer on Mary Zimmerman’s The White Snake, and film composition for At the Gate, Modou: The Hang Player, and Jon and Davy. Ronnie has also produced the albums Auraad Fathiya, Saazuk Safar, Tsikago, Gypsy Surf, and East Meets Middle East through his company, Intercultural Music Production, and has appeared as a guest artist on several musical works. He conducts Arabic language artist residencies for Chicago Public Schools and is a teaching artist of music and theater with Global Voices Initiative. Ronnie is also a faculty member at the Old Town School of Folk Music, as well as an artist researcher with Chicago Arts Partnership in Education. He performs with the music groups Allos Musica, Baeoa, EMME, Lamajamal, Surabhi, Turath Ensemble, and the University of Chicago Middle East Music Ensemble.
EVE MONZINGO
Eve Monzingo is a multi-instrumentalist who specializes in folk music of the Balkans, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. She has performed in Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Germany, England and France with the Chicago Klezmer Ensemble, Die Naye Kaplye, (both Jewish folk music groups) and Lamajamal (mid-eastern/balkan music). Eve has also toured the U.S. with the Mucca Pazza and Lamajamal.
Eve is passionate about music education and has presented music workshops and assemblies at many schools around Chicago. Since 2007, she has been the musical director for the Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society’s youth and adult Greek folk music groups. Eve has taught group ensembles and workshops at the Old Town School of Music, KlezKanada in Montreal, the University of Chicago and Roosevelt University. She taught private lessons on piano, clarinet, flute and saxophone at Leapin’ Lyrics Music School in Geneva Illinois for eight years and currently teaches private lessons from her home in Chicago.
Eve began her journey into folk music by earning the Ethnic Folk Arts Apprenticeship Grant from the Illinois Art Council to study Greek clarinet music under Jim Stoynoff when she was still a teenager. She then went on to earn scholarships to attend various folk music conferences, including the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research and Culture (commonly call Klezcamps), the Eastern European Folklife Group’s Balkan Music and Dance Camps, and Simon Shaheen’s Arabic Music Retreat.
Eve received her degree from Roosevelt University where she studied classical composition and music theory with Dr. Robert Lombardo. Her composition credits include 1st prize in the American Jewish Song Festival (1994), 2nd prize in the Midwest American Chapter of Women Composers competition (1996), and 2nd prize for her string quartet in the Virginia and Seymour LaRock Composition Competition (2001). Her compositions are featured on the recordings “Sweet Home Bukovina” by the Chicago Klezmer Ensemble (1996) and “Trumpets” by the Amsterdam based klezmer group, DiFidl-Kapelye (2006).
HABIB WARDAK
Habibullah Wardak is the son of immigrant parents who moved to Pakistan during the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. He studied Afghan folk music and Indian classical music on the rubab (an Afghan stringed instrument) at the age of 8. He immigrated to the United States at the age of 11. He has been featured on many news sources such as the BBC, NPR and WTTW for his mastery of the rubab and performances of Afghan music. He also has collaborated on many projects with the University of Chicago, Miami University – Cincinatti and Columbia College Chicago, and has served as a consultant on Afghan culture and music. Past theatre work includes THE JUNGLE BOOK (Goodman Theatre).
MUSIC AND DANCE STORYTELLING OF ANDALUSIAN MUSIC & FLAMENCO ROOTS
TAKE AN ENCHANTING MUSICAL JOURNEY FROM 9TH CENTURY ISLAMIC SPAIN TO PRESENT DAY AMERICA
MULITI-GENRE COLLABORATIVE FEATURING AMERICAN ARTISTS FROM THE DIASPORA OF MUSLIM COUNTRIES IMPACTED BY WAR
ORIGINAL PLAY BY REGINALD EDMUND AND RONNIE MALLEY
American Griot is an original play exploring the often overlooked history of early African Muslims forced into American slavery and the influence they had on what would become the American music genre known as the blues. Told through the lens of Mamadou, an 18th century griot (African storyteller musician), the audience is taken on a musical journey to the crossroads of Africa and America revealing the shared history of Islam and the blues on both continents. The 2019 world premiere is produced by Moraine Valley Community College through Silk Road Rising Theatre with generous support from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and APAP Association of Performing Arts Professionals.
Moraine Valley Community College Academic Theater’s upcoming 2018-19 season includes the world premiere of “American Griot” by former Moraine Valley student Ronnie Malley, and Reginald Edmund, Feb. 21-March 3 at John and Angeline Oremus Theater as part of the Mosaics: Muslim Voices in America project.
More info about the 2019 premier can be found here on our events page.
Amplify Peace is a collaborative touring production featuring American artists from the diaspora of predominantly Muslim countries impacted by war. The multi-genre program includes artists Bassel & The Supernaturals (soul/funk), Kayem (hip-hop), Omar Offendum (spoken word) and Ronnie Malley (traditional Mid-Eastern). Through performance and educational workshops, these socially conscious artists raise awareness about issues affecting the US, Middle East, and the Muslim world.
Amplify Peace originated from the success of a tour across the United States in October 2017. The tour was produced in partnership with Sukoon Creative and the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), including Syrian-American artists Omar Offendum and Bassel & The Supernaturals, Libyan-American hip-hop sensation Kayem, the traditional Middle Eastern sounds of Palestinian-American artist Ronnie Malley & The Turath Ensemble, and DJ Bella Loki. Highlights from the tour included a performance at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the Arab American National Museum in Michigan, and a feature by the Associated Press.
MUSIC AND DANCE STORYTELLING OF ANDALUSIAN MUSIC & FLAMENCO ROOTS
From Rajasthan, India to the Middle East to North Africa and across the Mediterranean into Andalusia, Spain, musical ideas and instruments were exchanged and have contributed to the foundation of Andalusian and flamenco music. Through music, dance, and storytelling, members of Las Guitarras de España and Surabhi Ensemble take to the trail and tell the tale of this shared cultural history from medieval Andalusia to the present. The performance includes original and traditional repertoire of Spanish guitar, Arab-Andalusian poetry and music, as well as Rajasthani, Middle Eastern, and flamenco folk music and dance.
Running time: 45-60 min (SHORT) or 90 min (LONG) | Available for: full production and all-ages educational presentations
“... a perfect combination of musicians and storytellers, blending wonderful music with humor and memoir...an excellent and well-received show to the delight of the audience!”
An Oasis Along The Silk Road - A caravanserai was an ancient motel, giving weary Silk Road travelers a safe place to park their camels, count their furs, and maybe even sip on some wine. Hot food, hand-washing stations, and live music were a must. Luckily for us, sans camels, Chicago has all those things, without having to experience the austere life styles of the vagabonds of yore. So, grab your headdress and gold coins, lace up your leggings, and join us for a night of music and dance that celebrates the weary traveler in all of us! Join Lamajamal and guest performers for "Caravanserai" An Oasis Along The Silk Road.
Join Lamajamal and special guests for "Caravanserai" An Oasis Along The Silk Road. Special guest performances with local musicians and dancers.
"Wala3at" is a series of Palestinian-Indigenous art, music, and dance sessions geared to creating a shared, transformative space for folks to build and share their histories of pain, joy, rage, and resistance.
Artists and Collaborators:
Ahmed Hamad - Filmmaker, Dabke Instructor, Performer and Director of Dabke is Life
Christy B. - Artist, Cultural Worker, Storyteller and Co-Director with The Aadizookaan
Sacramento Knoxx - Musician/Band, Cultural Worker, motion picture artist and Creative Director with The Aadizookaan.
Ronnie Malley - Multi-instrumentalist musician, theatrical performer, producer, and educator.
– SOLO PLAY WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY RONNIE MALLEY
TAKE AN ENCHANTING MUSICAL JOURNEY FROM 9TH CENTURY ISLAMIC SPAIN TO PRESENT DAY AMERICA. ARABIC MUSIC, POETRY, AND SONGS BREATHE LIFE INTO THE STORY OF ZIRYAB, A FORMER SLAVE FROM BAGHDAD, WHOSE MUSICAL ABILITIES BROUGHT HIM FAME THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA, AND AL-ANDALUS: A LAND WHERE CHRISTIANS, JEWS, AND MUSLIMS CO-EXISTED FOR CENTURIES CREATING A UNIQUE AND DIVERSE SOCIETY. THE PLAY DESCRIBES THE HISTORY OF ZIRYAB, ISLAM IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST, AND EL OUD – A MIDDLE EASTERN LUTE THAT EVENTUALLY BECAME THE GUITAR. THE STORY ALSO WEAVES PAST AND PRESENT INCLUDING ANECDOTES FROM RONNIE’S OWN LIFE GROWING UP AS A MUSICIAN AND MUSLIM PALESTINIAN-AMERICAN IN THE UNITED STATES. RUNNING TIME: 75 MIN
AVAILABLE FOR: FULL PRODUCTION - STAGED READING - CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS - MUSIC & THEATER WORKSHOPS - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - K-12 & COLLEGE LEVEL
“In 75 minutes this Chicago performer takes us back to the ninth century and deep into our own. Ziryab: The Songbird of Andalusia is a welcome, multi-cultural world premiere from Silk Road Rising. Malley’s labor of love testifies to the power of art to make us at home wherever. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED”
“Malley’s musicianship is superb and his interweaving of his own life with the story of Ziryab’s, as well as his highly-informative discourse on the medieval master’s legacy, make for an enlightening performance.”
PERFORMER, PRODUCER, TEACHER
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