February 4, 2003
Contact: Susan Gwynne
(805) 893-2098
e-mail: gwynne-s@sa.ucsb.edu
Master of the oud and violin Simon Shaheen and his band Qantara bring their exciting Arabic/world music fusion to UCSB Campbell Hall
Summary Facts:
- Simon Shaheen and Qantara
- The preeminent Arabic musician in the United States
- A virtuoso on oud and violin
- An award-winning fusion of jazz and world music
- Wednesday, March 12 / 8 pm
- UCSB Campbell Hall
- General: $28 and $25, UCSB students: $19 and $16
- Tickets/information: UCSB Arts & Lectures at 893-3535
Simon Shaheen, who dazzles listeners with his soaring technique, melodic ingenuity and the unparalleled grace with which he deftly leaps from traditional Arabic to jazz and classical styles, will perform with his six-person band Qantara on Wednesday, March 12 at 8 pm in UCSB Campbell Hall. Internationally acclaimed as a virtuoso on the oud and violin, Shaheen is also one of the most significant Arabic musicians, performers and composers of his generation. The New York Times claims, “Mr. Shaheen has displayed the range and soul of this short-necked, pear-shaped plucked instrument, the precursor of the European lute, like few others. He has coaxed the oud’s elastic, syncopated sound across musical borders, from classical Arabic compositions to contemporary jazz fusion. He has stretched social boundaries, too, establishing himself as an important interpreter of Arab culture for Western audiences.”
For the past six years, Shaheen has focused much of his energies on Qantara (pronounced KAN tra). The band, whose name means arch in Arabic, is Shaheen’s vision of the unbridled fusion of Arabic, jazz, Western Classical and Latin music, a perfect alchemy where the music transcends the boundaries of genre and geography. “I want to create world music exceptionally satisfying to the ear and the soul,” says Shaheen, “which is why I selected members for Qantara who are all virtuosos in their own musical form, whose experience can raise the music and performance of the group to the spectacular.” One member of Qantara, percussionist Lorenzo Martinez, resides in Santa Barbara.
In June 2002 Shaheen and Qantara released the critically acclaimed CD Blue Flame, aptly named after the hottest, purest part of the fire. While the album’s heart is in the Levant, it spans the globe for inspiration, ranging from a cover of the Police cut “Tea in the Sahara” (Sting is a big supporter of the group) to a song based on a theme by legendary Egyptian composer Mohamed Abdel-Wahab. In a four-star review the Los Angeles Times called Blue Flame a “stunning recording” that “speaks a glorious international musical language.”
Born in Tarshiha, Galilee, in 1955, Simon Shaheen grew up surrounded by music. His father Hikmat Shaheen was a professor of music and a master oud player. Simon began learning the instrument at the age of five, and a year later began studying violin at the Conservatory for Western Classical Music. Shaheen graduated from the Academy of Music in Jerusalem in 1978, moving to New York City two years later to complete his graduate studies in performance at the Manhattan School of Music, and later in performance and music education at Columbia.
In the early 80s, Shaheen formed the Near Eastern Music Ensemble establishing a group that would perform the most moving and highest standard of traditional Arabic music. As a champion and guardian of Arabic music, Shaheen still devotes almost fifty percent of his time to working with schools and universities, including Juilliard, Princeton, Brown, Harvard, Yale and UCSD.
On the evening of the performance concertgoers may enhance their experience by attending a tasty Arabic buffet served by the UCSB Faculty Club at 6 pm. The dinner is $18 per person; reservations must be made by March 5 by calling 805.893.3096.
Simon Shaheen and Qantara are presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures and sponsored by the Daily Nexus and Magic 97.5 FM. Tickets are $28 and $25 for the general public and $19 and $16 for UCSB students.
For tickets or more information,
call UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535.
Editor: For photos, please call
Susan Gwynne at (805) 893-2098.