Saturday, February 6, 2009
University of
Fullerton, California
Saturday, February 7, 2009
5515 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
$25-60
/ 18+ / Show: 9 PM / (323) 936-6400
www.sixdegreesrecords.com
www.niyazmusic.com
www.theelrey.com
www.bflybuzz.com
For tickets
and information visit:
www.radiojavan.com/NIYAZ
Saturday, February 13, 2009
Palace of Fine Arts,
San Francisco, CA
For tickets and information visit:
www.radiojavan.com/NIYAZ
On February 7, the Persian
electro-acoustic sensation NIYAZ does a hometown record release party in
Los Angeles at the El Rey Theatre in support of their critically
acclaimed sophomore album, Nine Heavens.
The album has been resonating across a
wide spectrum of fans worldwide from the younger Persian generation to their
parents, to Western ears and more. No wonder why the album continues to
receive press accolades with a recent feature on NPR's Weekend Edition.
The album has also hit impressive chart numbers including #1 on iTunes
"world chart," #1 on the "world music radio charts" in
Europe, and
#4 on Billboard's "world music chart."
NIYAZ
2005 debut album featured a convincing blend of Sufi poetry and trance
electronica, and quickly established them as a standout ensemble in a very
crowded world music field. Since then
NIYAZ
have become international touring artists performing all over the world from
Canada, the United States, Europe to the Middle East. Known for their highly
dynamic live performances, which features additional musicians from various
backgrounds, Niyaz presents audiences with a sophisticated blend of superb
musicianship and subtle electronica.
Now,
NIYAZ
returns with Nine Heavens, which doesn't just cross cultural and
stylistic boundaries, but the centuries as well. Drawing on medieval
Persian poetry and 300-year old Persian folk songs,
NIYAZ
has created a 21st century global trance tradition. This may seem like a
tall order for a band that's barely three years old - until you realize who
these musicians are. Vocalist Azam Ali co-founded the best-selling
world music duo Vas in 1996; her unmistakable voice has graced numerous
recordings and major film scores. Loga Ramin Torkian is a
multi-instrumentalist whose group Axiom of Choice brought the ancient sounds of
Persian classical music to Western listeners in the 1990s. And Carmen
Rizzo, a multiple Grammy nominee, who is co-producer in
NIYAZ along with
Azam and Loga, and has worked with Coldplay, Seal, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and many
others. Small wonder then that the trio hit the ground running with its
self-titled debut. Now, with Nine Heavens,
NIYAZ
breaks new ground in a two-disc format: the first is an adventurous, spiritual
exploration of the ties that bind Persian, Indian, Turkish, and Western dance
music. The second disc showcases 8 out of the 9 songs in a purely acoustic
setting.On tour
NIYAZ
consists of vocalist Azam Ali, multi-instrumentalist Loga Ramin
Torkian, oud virtuoso Naser Musa, tabla player Salar Nader,
double bassist Miles Jay, and Ray Lee on keyboards and programming.
NIYAZ'
live show is a celebration of cultural and spiritual differences, which has not
only united these talented musicians, but also their audiences worldwide.
Don't
miss this opportunity to see a group forging a new musical path when NIYAZ
comes to perform at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles on February 7th.
Niyaz Ensemble - Individual Biographies
Azam Ali
Iranian
born, Indian raised Azam Ali is internationally recognized for her work
with Niyaz and Vas, two of the best-selling and critically
acclaimed world music ensembles she co-founded. In a career which spans over a
decade and includes nine collaborative and solo albums, Azam Ali has
confirmed her place as one of the most prolific, versatile, and gifted singers
on the world music stage today. Billboard magazine has described her
voice as, "a glorious, unforgettable instrument." Azam's dedication to
defy cultural specificity in music and her unwillingness to settle into one form
of musical expression have earned her both the respect of her piers as well as
much critical acclaim. Her immense talent and ability to adapt her voice to any
musical style have drawn the attention of many diverse artists and film
composers. Azam has collaborated in studio and on stage with numerous artists
like Serj Tankian of System of a Down, The Crystal Method,
Pat Mastellato and Trey Gunn of King Crimson, Dredg,
Chris Vrenna formerly of Nine Inch Nails, Ben Watkins of
Juno Reactor, Buckethead, Steve Stevens, Mercan Dede, the
world renowned Japanese group Kodo, Zakir Hussain, Omar Faruk
Tekbilek, and Mickey Hart. Aside from her solo and collaborative
projects, Azam has also built an impressive resume singing on several major
film scores including "The Matrix: Revolutions", "Godsend", "The Nativity
Story" , "Speed Racer", "Paparazzi", "Children of Dune "and on hit TV shows
such as "Alias" and "Prison Break".
Loga Ramin Torkian
Iranian
born Loga Ramin Torkian has won much recognition in his native Iran as
well as in the west as the composer and multi-instrumentalists for the World
Music group Axiom of Choice whose music is deeply rooted in the traditional
music of Iran. Currently based in America Loga is now recognized worldwide for
his work with Niyaz, the ground breaking World Music ensemble he co-founded in
2005. Although Torkian is a highly accomplished on many instruments such as the
Guitar, Lafta, Djura etc., his main instruments are the Turkish Saz which is
from the family of lutes, the Kamman, a bowed instrument specifically designed
for Loga, and the electric Guitar Viol, a bowed guitar inspired by a 14th
century instrument. Loga is one of the few musicians who performs the Guitar
Viol live. With its haunting sound that mesmerizes audiences, what makes Loga's
style so singular is the fact that he applies Persian traditional bowing
techniques and melodies to his playing. A highly gifted and talented composer,
Loga is greatly respected for his ability to adapt the Persian classical
repertoire, known as Radif, into his own unique and modern compositions. His
profound artistry has been featured in several major motion picture soundtracks,
which include "Iron Man" and "Body of Lies".
Described by the Beirut
Times as "one of the most versatile vocalists and Oud masters of the Middle
East" Naser Musa stands today at the forefront of Middle Eastern music as
an undeniable Oud virtuoso, a gifted songwriter/composer and a singer with a
profoundly soothing voice that can assuage even the most tormented of hearts.
An active and sought
after musician, Naser has performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall,
the Kennedy Center, The Hollywood Bowl, the United Nations and Chicago's
Symphony Hall. He has recorded with many big name artists such as Shakira,
Beyonce, Michael Sembello, Youssou N'Dour, Fathy Salama and Dr. A. J. Racy among
others. He has also been featured on several major motion picture soundtracks
which include the Grammy award winning "The Passion of the Christ", and most
recently "Body of Lies". On his own Naser Musa has composed, arranged, and
recorded numerous projects in the Middle East and in the United States among
which include the highly successful "Khaliji" and "Christmas and Beyond".
Salar Nader
Salar Nader is
one of the youngest and most talked about Tabla players in recent times. A
student of world-renowned Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, Salar's natural
magnetism and innovative approach to this traditional instrument have made him
one of Hussain's most promising protégés. Of Afghan decent, Salar was born in
Hamburg, Germany in 1981 and migrated to America at the age of three where he
began his studies with Ustad Zakir Hussain. Today, Salar is the preferred
accompanist for many of India's, Afghanistan's, and Pakistan's most renowned
classical musicians and dancers. He has performed with Ustad Salamat Ali Khan,
Ustad Mawaash, Rahul Sharma, Ahmad Wali, Homayun Sakhi, Fareed Haque Group,
Ustad Shujaat khan, Ustad Rashid khan , Kala Ramnath, Ghulam Ali khan and Riffat
Sultana. He has also performed with ensembles such as the Rumi Ensemble (Shahram
Nazeri and Hafez Nazeri), Rumination (Farzin Farhadi, Cheb I Sabbah. Not yet
30 years of age, Salar Nader is already an exceptional musician, composer,
teacher, and performer. It is safe to say that he is destined to be one of the
top artists of his time.
Miles Jay
At 27 years of age, Miles Jay is the most sought after double bassist in
the World Music scene today. A graduate of the University of California, Santa
Barbara with a BA in Ethnomusicology combined with a strong foundation in Jazz
and Classical music, Miles has soon built an impressive resume for himself
touring all over the world from Cairo to Oslo, Dubai to Dakar, Carnegie Hall,
the United Nations, Beirut and Damascus. His versatility and experience in the
musical traditions of the Middle East have earned him a spot performing with
some of the biggest names in World Music today which include Youssou N'Dour,
Fathy Salama, Naser Shamma (Iraq), the Cairo Symphony Orchestra, Ross Daly
(Greece), Georges Lammam, Trygve Seim (Norway), Omar Faruk Tekbilek, The
Alexandria Chamber Orchestra and Dr. Ali Jihad Racy. In 2006, while living in
Cairo for two years after graduating, Miles co-founded, co-produced, and
recorded two unique original music ensembles called Bakash and Masar. He has
also been increasingly active in various production roles as in 2005 when he was
the Associate Musical Director / Contractor / Bassist for Youssou N'Dour's US
Grammy tour. Miles' talent and innate approach to World Music has added a
wonderful new dimension to Niyaz' music, making him a great new addition to this
unique ensemble.
... Payvand News - 01/29/09 ... --
