Loading ...Noura Mint Seymali Headlines Arab American National Museum's Global Fridays Winter/Spring Concert Series
DEARBORN, Mich. (Jan. 28, 2016) – Prepare to be captivated through musical experiences like no other consisting of Mauritanian, Irish, Egyptian and Yemeni genres. Tickets are now on sale for The Arab American National Museum’s Global Fridays 2016 Winter/Spring Season – a celebration of musical traditions from around the world – offering engaging musical journeys right here in southeast Michigan.
The 2016 Winter/Spring Season opens 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, with a performance by Noura Mint Seymali, one of Mauritania’s most adventurous young artists. Her experience of growing up in an iggawen, or griot, family has strongly shaped her own musical message for a global audience. Backed by a declarative, funk-speaking rhythm section, the band made a formidable debut on the international stage releasing their first full-length album, Tzenni, on Glitterbeat Records in 2014.
Global Fridays festivities continue 7 p.m. Friday, March 4, with an Irish dance workshop and 8 p.m. performance by The Murphy Beds, comprised of Jefferson Hamer and Eamon O’Leary. The concert, in partnership with the Gaelic League of Detroit, is presented in conjunction with the AANM exhibition The Map is Not the Territory: Parallel Paths – Palestinians, Native Americans, Irish. This performance marks the centennial of the Easter Rising, in which a group of Irish nationalists paved the way for establishing what is now the modern-day Republic of Ireland.
The musical journey then masterfully explores the treasures of instrumental and vocal Egyptian expression at 8 p.m. Friday, April 29 with a performance by Tarek Abdallah and Adel Shams El-Din, known as the veteran master of the riqq. Abdallah’s fluid oud improvisations and Shams El-Din’s dexterous negotiation of the complex rhythmic cycles create something fresh and original from an almost lost tradition.
The 2016 Winter/Spring season closes at 8 p.m. Friday, May 13, with a performance by Yemeni traditional artist Abdulrahman Al Akhfash. An oud player and vocalist, Al Akhfash hails from a line of musicians steeped in the Yemeni musical tradition. His mix of traditional Yemeni music recordings and his own compositions have made him popular across Yemen and have built a bridge between different cultures.
In celebration of the Yemeni musical showcase, renowned Yemeni jewelry expert and authorMarjorie Ransom will host a free lecture 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 13. Her new book, Silver Treasures from the Land Of Sheba, Regional Yemeni Jewelry, highlights her vast knowledge and experience in the art of traditional Middle Eastern silver jewelry. In the 1960s, her 30+ year career as a United States diplomat began where she traveled with her late husband across Yemen, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Syria and Egypt, collecting more than 2000 pieces of silver jewelry. Upon retirement from the Department of State, she organized her collection into what became the Silver Speaks: Traditional Jewelry of the Middle East exhibition, which AANM proudly hosted in 2007.
Since the Arab American National Museum (AANM) opened on May 5, 2005, its Global Fridays multicultural performance series – a sister series to the AANM’s annual summer Concert of Colorsworld music festival in Midtown Detroit – has offered high-quality musical and spoken-word presentations for fans of traditional and world music and those with adventurous cultural tastes.
Enhancing the Global Fridays experience are after-show artist “meet and greets” and CD signings.
Global Fridays
2016 Winter/Spring Season
Since 2005, this multicultural performance series – a sister to the annual summer Concert of Colors world music festival in Midtown Detroit – has offered high-quality musical presentations for fans of traditional and world music and those with adventurous cultural tastes.
8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, 2016
Noura Mint Seymali (Mauritanian)
Reared in a transitive culture where sounds from across the Sahara, the Maghreb, and West Africa coalesce, Noura Mint Seymali – vocalist and master of the ardine, a ninestring harp reserved only for women – is one of Mauritania’s most adventurous young artists, emerging at a nexus of a changing Africa. Her band is backed by a declarative, funkspeaking rhythm section, composed of Ousmane Touré and Matthew Tinari.
“The seemingly effortless way Tzenni straddles new and traditional music makes it one of the finest African albums this year.” – BBC
“With her smoky-rich voice, this griot artist tips toward reggae, flamenco and rock along with traditional Sahelian tonalities and rhythms in a band that includes her husband, guitarist (and fellow griot) Jeich Ould Chighaly. Though Seymali is still a newcomer to American audiences, she won’t likely be an unknown for long.” – National Public Radio (NPR)
http://www.nouramintseymali.com/
8 p.m. Friday, March 4, 2016
The Murphy Beds (Irish folk) In partnership with the Gaelic League of Detroit
Jefferson Hamer and Eamon O’Leary present traditional and original folk songs with close harmonies and deft arrangements on bouzouki, guitar and mandolin. O’Leary played Irish music while growing up in Dublin, then relocated to immerse himself in New York City’s traditional music scene. Brooklyn-based guitarist/vocalist Hamer won a 2013 BBC Radio 2 Folk Award with Anais Mitchell for their adaptations of British folk songs. The evening includes a complimentary Irish dance workshop at 7 p.m. for ticket holders.
“Their great feat turns out to be taking what’s best of the classic Irish folk revival without falling into any of its clichés. The resulting album bears repeated listening from start to finish, with ten beautiful, crystalline songs.” – The Huffington Post
http://www.murphybedsmusic.com/
This concert is presented in conjunction with the AANM exhibition The Map is Not the Territory: Parallel Paths – Palestinians, Native Americans, Irish, Jan. 23-May 15, 2016, in the Lower Level Gallery.
8 p.m. Friday, April 29, 2016
Tarek Abdallah & Adel Shams El-Din (Egyptian)
Tarek Abdallah – an Egyptian composer, lutenist and musicologist – draws inspiration from the golden age of the Egyptian oud solo (1910-1930). Egyptian-born and France-based, Adel Shams El-Din is universally acknowledged as being one of the most gifted riqq players and percussionists today. Both are acclaimed around the world for their deep knowledge and performance prowess; united on the concert stage, they offer audience an unparalleled musical experience.
“Abdallah is one of the best Egyptian oud players and Shams El-Din, who has played with many great masters and is genius on the riqq, which gives music its backbone. This album is a statement of faith in the contemporary power of traditional Arabic music – creating large suites, or wasla, around particular maqams.” – Songlines Magazine
http://www.tarekabdallah.com/-ENGLISH
8 p.m. Friday, May 13, 2016
Abdulrahman Al Akhfash (Yemeni traditional)
This performance embodies the Yemeni tradition that most often consists of a solo singer with oud accompaniment, highlighting rhythms in subtly expressive ways. Renowned across Yemen as a musician and vocalist, Abdulrahman Al Akhfash has contributed significantly over the past 20 years to the natural development and enrichment of the Sanani repertoire. His delivery is expressive, occasionally euphoric, but ultimately poetic.
The public is welcome to attend a FREE talk by Yemeni jewelry expert and author Marjorie Ransomat 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 13, 2016; talk is free but RSVP required at http://bit.ly/YemeniSilver. AANM featured Ransom’s Silver Speaks: Traditional Jewelry of the Middle East exhibition in 2007.
Tickets – $15 general public and $10 AANM Members – are available in advance online only atwww.arabamericanmuseum.org. Tickets also available at the door. Artist talks are free and open to the public.
All Global Fridays performances begin at 8 p.m. at the Arab American National Museum, 13624 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn. Free, lighted parking is available in the municipal lot north of the Museum.
The Winter/Spring 2016 season of Global Fridays is made possible in part by Ford Foundation, DTE Energy, Comerica and Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. Media sponsorship for the 2016 Winter/Spring Season is generously provided by The Monitor. Artist accommodations provided by Comfort Inn Dearborn.
The Arab American National Museum (AANM) documents, preserves and presents Arab American history, culture and contributions. The AANM is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums; an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution; and a founding member of the Immigration and Civil Rights Network of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience. The Museum is located at 13624 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI, 48126. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday, Tuesday; Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Admission is $8 for adults; $4 for students, seniors and children 6-12; ages 5 and under and Museum Members, free.
Visit www.arabamericanmuseum.org or call 313.582.2266 for further information.
