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Home , Aka Moon, Aram Shelton, Fabrizio Cassol, Jason Adasiewicz, Kamancheh, Ole Mathisen

Amir ElSaffar’s Rivers of Sound Orchestra

Amir ElSaffar / Trumpet and Carlo De Rosa / Acoustic Bass John Escreet / Piano Dena ElSaffar / Violin and Jowza / Alto George Ziadeh / and Vocals / Vibraphone JD Parran / Bass Saxophone and Clarinet Miles Okazaki / Guitar Mohammed Saleh / Oboe and English Horn Naseem AlAtrash / / Drums Ole Mathisen / Tenor and Soprano Rajna Swaminathan / Tareq Abboushi / Tim Moore / Percussion, Dumbek, and Frame Drum Zafer Tawil / Percussion and Oud

Wednesday Evening, October 18, 2017 at 7:30 Power Center Ann Arbor

12th Performance of the 139th Annual Season Traditions and Crosscurrents This evening’s performance is funded in part by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Endowment Fund. In consideration of the artists and the audience, please refrain from the use of electronic devices during the performance. The photography, sound recording, or videotaping of this performance is prohibited. PROGRAM

Amir ElSaffar Rivers of Sound: Not Two

Iftitah Jourjina Over 3 Penny Explosion Ya Ibni Ya Ibni Hijaz Kar Hijaz 21/8 B Half-Flat Fantasy Bayat Declamation

This evening’s program is approximately 75 minutes in duration and will be performed without intermission.

3 RIVERS OF SOUND

Rivers of Sound is a large ensemble and passion. Challenging notions of of instrumentalists from Western and composition versus improvisation, Middle Eastern traditions, exploring tradition versus modernity, the confluences of a musical language microtonality/modality versus that transcends notions of tradition harmony, his compositions bring to and style. In performing Not Two, an light the universality of music across original composition by Amir ElSaffar, cultures. Given the catastrophes each musician interacts with the befalling the people of the Middle group through both improvised and Eastern and Arab lands, his music composed material to create a novel is both timely and urgent as he is composite sound. preserving elements of these cultures , trumpeter, santur player, by bringing them into context with and vocalist Amir ElSaffar, an expert in contemporary musical forms. and Iraqi maqam, has forged his Mr. ElSaffar received funding from novel approach to combining musical the MAP Fund and Arab Fund for Arts languages through his six-piece and Culture to create Rivers of Sound. ensemble Two Rivers. Over the past The 17 members came to eight years, the group has released from as far away as Qatar, Palestine, three CDs on . Crisis, and in April 2015 for three the most recent, was a Newport Jazz days of rehearsal, the premiere of Not Festival commission. Two at Lincoln Center, and an epic Rivers of Sound’s Not Two is a 14-hour day at Avatar Studios, where continuation of the Two Rivers they recorded the 80-minute suite concept, but projected onto a wider directly to tape. Mr. ElSaffar believes canvas unprecedented in scope that the nature of this sound cannot be and imagination. Microtonal maqam captured digitally and has committed melodies traverse a richly-textured to all analog, releasing a double LP in bed of sound created by oud, buzuk, June 2017. and santur, in combination with cello, violin, saxophones, English horn, and trumpet. Also at play are multilayered rhythmic patterns and harmonies performed by re-tuned vibraphone, piano, and guitar. The drum set, mridangam, dumbek, frame drums, and double-bass provide the rhythmic foundation and subdivisions of the multiple currents. Resonance across rhythmic, tonal, and timbral spectra, and across musical traditions, is the guiding principle. Mr. ElSaffar’s music is at once unique and engaging, and full of heart

4 The highest ideal in maqam music is to reach a state of tarab, or “musical ecstasy,” which results from the melting away of borders between a notion of self and other, as performers and audience revel together in the music. As pitches and rhythms become fluid, so do cultural boundaries: elements that traditionally divide musicians and genre-specific modes are re-contextualized in a fresh transcultural soundscape.

5

ARTISTS

Amir ElSaffar (trumpet, santur) has Jersey. He has played buzuq since 1997 distinguished himself with a mastery of and has performed with numerous bands disparate musical styles and a singular throughout the US, Canada, and the Middle approach to combining aspects of . His past collaborations include such Eastern music with American jazz, extending notable musicians as Simon Shaheen, Omar the boundaries of each tradition. A skilled Farouk Tekbilek, and Dan Zanes. He has jazz trumpeter with a classical background, lectured and led workshops on Arab music Mr. ElSaffar has created new techniques at , NYU, Juilliard, The to play microtones and ornaments that National Conservatory of Music in Palestine, are idiomatic to music but are not and the Music Conservatory in Norway. He typically heard on the trumpet. Additionally, has contributed to the award-winning film he is an acknowledged performer of the scores for Encounter Point (“Best Musical classical Iraqi maqam tradition, and performs Score,” Bend Film Festival, 2006) and actively in the US and internationally as a Chicken Heads (“Best Short Film,” Dubai vocalist and santur player. As a composer, Film Festival, 2010), as well as to Jonathan Mr. ElSaffar has used the microtones found in Demme’s Jimmy Carter: Man From Plains and maqam music to create a unique approach to the Oscar-nominated Rachel Getting Married. harmony and melody. He currently leads four critically-acclaimed ensembles: Two Rivers, Jason Adasiewicz (vibraphone) is a which combines the musical languages vibraphonist, drummer, and composer. He and instrumentation of Iraqi maqam and is an integral member of ’s jazz contemporary jazz; the Amir ElSaffar and improvised music scene, bringing Quintet, performing ElSaffar’s microtonal his aggressive yet lyrical style to over 10 compositions with standard jazz working Chicago groups, including Rob instrumentation; Safaafir, the only ensemble Mazurek’s Starlicker and Exploding Star in the US performing and preserving the Orchestra, ’s Loose Assembly, Iraqi maqam in its traditional format; and Peter Brotzmann, Jason Adasiewicz Duo, The Alwan Ensemble. In addition, he has Josh Berman and His Gang, Ingebrigt Häker worked with jazz legend , and Flaten Chicago Sextet, James Falzone’s prominent jazz musicians such as Mark Klang, and ’s Topology and Dresser, Gerry Hemingway, , Midwest School. Mr. Adasiewicz performs , and Oliver Lake. Mr. ElSaffar frequently in Europe and is a member of has appeared on numerous recordings, groups lead by Peter Brotzmann, Mats and has released six under his own name: Gustafsson, and Stefano Bollani. He won Maqams of Baghdad (2005), Two Rivers the 2011 Downbeat Annual Critic’s Poll in (2007), Radif Suite (2010), Inana (2011), the “Rising Star Vibes” category, and for Alchemy (2013), and Crisis (2015). the last five years has placed in the “Vibes” category. His quintet Rolldown, with Josh Tareq Abboushi (buzuq) is a multi- Berman, , Jason Roebke, instrumentalist, composer, and bandleader. and formed in 2004 and has Born and raised in Ramallah, Palestine, Mr. released two records, Rolldown (482 Music, Abboushi received his BM in jazz piano 2008) and Varmint (Cuneiform Records, from William Paterson University in New 2009). Starlicker’s (with and

7 John Herndon) Double Demon (Delmark far. As a composer he wrote for La Grande 2011) was named by the New York Times Formation, Musiques Nouvelles, and as a “Top 10 Pop and Jazz Record of 2011” soloists such as Bernard Foccroulle. In and the Los Angles Times as a “Top 10 Jazz his most recent works (VSPRS, Passion), Record of 2011.” written in close collaboration with choreographer Alain Platel, he revisited the Naseem AlAtrash (cello) is a globally masterpieces of Monteverdi and Bach, in acclaimed Palestinian cellist and a a setting open to extra European and non- classically trained musician and improviser notated, improvised music. in diverse styles. Mr. AlAtrash has earned a reputation for fearlessly broadening Since moving to New York, Carlo De Rosa the horizons of the cello on the world (acoustic bass) has had the opportunity stage. Following his studies at the Edward to work with many great artists in the jazz Said National Conservatory of Music in and Latin world. This has led to diverse Ramallah, Mr. AlAtrash was awarded a full musical and cultural experiences and has scholarship to attend the Berklee College allowed him to work with a wide variety of of Music in Boston. He went on to achieve artists such as Ray Barretto, Coltrane, the highest honors in cello performance. Dave Valentin, John Faddis, Yo-Yo Ma, Jack He has appeared with respected Arab DeJohnette, Hilton Ruiz, Steve Turre, Bruce singers such as Tunisian singer Sonya Barth, , Chico O’Farrill Afro- M’barek, Lofi Bouchnaq, Lebanese singer Cuban Jazz Orchestra, William Cepeda, Rima Khcheich, and Palestinian singers , Ed Thigpen, Nick Brignola, such as Ibrahim Azzam, Dalal Abu Amneh, Mickey Roker, Warren Bernhardt, Candido and Mohammed Assaf. The twice-awarded Camero, Miguel Zenon, , Bobby “String Player of the Year” from The Sanabria, Jean Toussaint, Papo Vasquez, National Music Competition of Palestine, and New York City Ballet. He collaborates Mr. AlAtrash continues to be a voice for and performs with many other great artists Palestinian culture and advocate of its including , , music through his global string quartet The Amir ElSaffar, Arturo O’Farrill, Nasheet Waits, Four Corners Quartet. Mark Shim, Ingrid Jensen, Cristina Pato, , , Donny Mostly known as saxophonist and band McCaslin, Brad Shepik, , Luis leader of , one of ’s most Perdomo, Greg Tardy, Dave Allen, , prominent jazz bands, Fabrizio Cassol (alto Chembo Corniel, Eric McPherson, Lucian saxophone) is also active as a composer, Ban, Dan Weiss, Andrea Brachfeld, Ralph with collaborations and projects in the LaLama, Dave Gilmore, and Steve Slagle. fields of contemporary music, dance, theater, hip-hop, and film music. As a Dena ElSaffar (violin, jowza) is of Iraqi and performer, after specializing with François American heritage, and was exposed to Danneels, , Joe Lovano, in the suburbs of Chicago, and Evan Parker, he devoted his efforts where she grew up attending Iraqi to the groups Trio Bravo, Nasa Na, La gatherings with her family. At age 17, GrandeFormation, and in 1993 started the completely engaged in , group Aka Moon, with which he toured she accompanied her father to Baghdad worldwide and has recorded 15 CDs so and became enchanted by the music of

8 and the Middle East. In 1993, while is an active performer on the New York and obtaining a classical music degree from the international jazz scene, and also works Indiana University, she founded the group as a studio musician, composer, arranger, Salaam, a Middle Eastern music ensemble and producer. Over the years he has been which has performed throughout the US. involved with classical, jazz, electronic, She has studied with Hamid Al-Saadi, ethnic, and experimental music, and he Munis Sharifov, Mohammed Gomar, and draws heavily on his wealth of musical Anwar Abudragh, and has performed with experience when composing. He is the Master Musicians of Jajouka and currently a member of the jazz studies Youssou N’Dour. Ms. ElSaffar plays the faculty at Columbia University. Mr. Mathisen , violin, jowza, and , and has worked on more than 80 albums, has also performed with Central Eurasian composed several film and TV scores, and ensembles, salsa groups, bluegrass, blues, has performed and/or recorded with Paula and rock bands. Cole, Louie Vega, , Darryl Jones, , William Kennedy, Tom Coster, Over the course of his career, John Escreet , Steve Smith, , Peter (piano) has earned a reputation as one Erskine, Eddie Gomez, Badal Roy, , of the most active and diverse pianist/ , Grady Tate, , Will working in jazz and improvised Lee, LaVerne Baker, and Abraham Laboriel. He music. His prolific output is reflected over is the leader of CHINESE HOROSCOPE, and a the course of seven diverse and critically member of NYNDK, SYOTOS, Afromantra, and acclaimed albums — the most recent Mamak Khadem Ensemble. being The Unknown with his working trio (with John Hébert on bass and Tyshawn Tim Moore (percussion, dumbek, frame Sorey on drums). Bursting on to the scene drum) grew up in the Midwest, and began with his 2008 debut album Consequences, playing drums at the age of 11. A natural Mr. Escreet quickly earned a reputation percussionist, he began performing as one of the most exciting new pianist/ with different groups early on, gaining composers to have emerged in recent experience in a variety of genres including years, with Downbeat magazine proclaiming jazz, blues, salsa, and rock. After earning “John Escreet’s recent debut Consequences a computer science degree from Indiana signals the jumpstart of a new voice in University in 1989, he worked on the east jazz.” As well as being a leader of prolific and west coasts as a computer programmer, output, Mr. Escreet is also a much sought- but in 1993 he left that world in order to after sideman. He has toured extensively devote himself to music. In his quest to with Antonio Sanchez’s Migration band. become a better, more diverse musician, he He continues to forge ahead with multiple began learning rhythms and instruments projects and recordings, ranging from his from around the world, eventually bringing trio, to his quintet, a recent collaboration his focus to Middle Eastern percussion. He with British free-jazz icon Evan Parker, has studied Arabic percussion with Wessam as well as his recent forays into writing Ayoub, Sattar Al Saadi, Lateef Al ‘Abeedi, extended works for strings. N. Scott Robinson, and Mohammed Khalil Salih. Mr. Moore plays the dumbek, riqq, Critically acclaimed saxophonist naqqarat, , tabl, and zanbur, as well as Ole Mathisen (tenor, soprano saxophones) drum set, bass, and guitar.

9 10 11 Miles Okazaki (guitar) is known for his by the New Winds trio, also featuring Ned technical command of the guitar, his Rothenberg and Robert Dick. His own rhythmic approach to improvisation and releases during the 2000s have included composition, and his work in contemporary JD Parran & Spirit Stage, Omegathorp: Living music theory. His teacher on guitar was City (co-led by banzatar and sitar player Rodney Jones, who recommended him Mark Deutsch), and Window Spirits, a solo for his first gig with Stanley Turrentine. Mr. performance recorded live in 2009. He can Okazaki spent four years on the road with also be heard on reissued discs by Jenkins, vocalist Jane Monheit, while also writing Bluiett, Hemphill, and others. and rehearsing the music for his first album, Mirror, which was released independently. Mohamed Ibrahim Saleh (oboe, English The album received a “Critics Pick” in horn) received his BM from the Cairo the New York Times, calling it “a work of Conservatory and continued his studies sustained collectivity as well as deep at Roosevelt University of Chicago in the intricacy.” This idea was taken to a higher US, where he studied under Alex Klein and level on his second album, Generations, received his master’s in oboe performance described by pianist Vijay Iyer as “the and orchestral studies in 2004. Other sonic equivalent of Escher or Borges, but studies followed in Rostock College of with real emotional heft,” and his third Music and Theatre in Rostock, Germany, album, Figurations, was selected as one where he received his Artist Diploma of the New York Times’ top 10 albums of (Konzert Examen) in oboe performance, 2012, described by Ben Ratliff as “slowly orchestral, and chamber music studies evolving puzzles of brilliant jazz logic.” in 2006. While in Germany, Mr. Saleh As a sideman, Mr. Okazaki works in many performed with numerous professional areas, ranging from standard repertoire German orchestras including the Heidelberg to experimental music. His most recent Sinfoniker and Philharmonic of The recordings and tours include Steve Coleman Nations, and he appeared as soloist with and Five Elements, , Jonathan the Rostock Philharmonic Orchestra and Finlayson, and Dan Weiss. Bayerischer Rundfunk (Radio Orchestra of Munich). Since 1999, he has maintained his JD Parran (bass saxophone and clarinet) position as principal oboist with the West- plays a wide range of clarinets from soprano Eastern Divan Symphony Orchestra under to contralto, as well as sopranino, bass, Maestro Daniel Barenboim, and he has and tenor saxophone; flute; and other appeared as a soloist with the orchestra. instruments. He has recorded with , , Hamiett Bluiett, John Rajna Swaminathan (mridangam) is Lindberg, Peter Brötzmann, and the group an accomplished artist in the field of Company (which included Derek Bailey, South Indian classical percussion caled Jon Corbett, Hugh Davies, Jamie Muir, Evan mridangam. She is a disciple and protégé Parker, Vinko Globokar, and Joelle Leandre). of mridangam maestro Umayalpuram He can also be heard on three recordings: K. Sivaraman, and she is one of only a Cliff, Traction, and Digging It Harder from handful of female mridangam artists in Afar, made during the late 1980s and 1990s the world. She has performed with several

Photo (previous spread): Amir ElSaffar’s Rivers of Sound Orchestra; photographer: White Cube.

12 renowned Indian classical musicians and Mr. Waits has been a member of Andrew dancers, touring widely in North America Hill’s various bands, Jason Moran’s and India. She has performed in several Bandwagon, and Fred Hersch’s trio. As prestigious venues and festivals including an originating member of pianist Jason the Smithsonian (DC), Kennedy Center Moran’s Bandwagon, Jason, bassist Tarus (DC), Asia Society (New York), Walker Art Mateen, and Nasheet have been deemed Center (MN), American Dance Festival (NC), “the most exciting rhythm section in jazz” Krannert Center (IL), Lied Center (KS), Music by JazzTimes. The 2001 recording Black Academy (Chennai), Shanmukhananda Hall Stars with the Bandwagon featuring Sam (), Edinburgh Fringe Festival (UK), Rivers was named the “Best CD of 2001” in and The Esplanade (Singapore). She also Jazz Times. His recording and performing regularly gives workshops on the South discography is a veritable “who’s who” in Indian rhythmic perspective, most notably jazz, boasting stints with jazz notables such at the Banff International Jazz and Creative as , Mario Bauza, Hamiett Bluiett, Music Workshop, the Percussive Arts Abraham Burton, Ron Carter, Marc Cary, Society International Convention, and the Steve Coleman, , Orrin Evans, KOSA International Percussion Camp. She Stefon Harris, Andrew Hill, Bill Lee, Jackie holds degrees in anthropology and French McLean, The Mingus Big Band, The New from the University of Maryland, College Jersey Symphony Orchestra, , Park, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Joshua Redman, Vanessa Rubin, Antoine music at Harvard University. Roney, Wallace Roney, Jacky Terrason, , and . Zafer Tawil (percussion, oud) is New York- based, Palestinian-American, and a virtuosic George Ziadeh (oud, vocals) was born in performer on the oud, violin, , and a Palestine, and pursued music from a young full range of Arab percussion instruments. age. In 1986 he moved to the US, where he Mr. Tawil performs across the US and in the has studied oud with Simon Shaheen and Middle East and holds workshops in oud classical singing and voice with Youssef technique and Arabic music theory. He was Kassab. From 1995–97 he taught at the part of the Spirit of Fez US Tour 2006 and Edward Said National Conservatory of has performed with numerous musicians Music in Ramallah and at Birzeit University. ranging from Sting to Arab music greats Upon his return to the US he has performed such as Simon Shaheen, Chab Mami, and and lectured with such ensembles and Bassam Saba, to avant-garde composer and institutions as the University of Chicago’s performer Elliot Sharpe. He has composed Middle East Music Ensemble with Issa music for a number of films including two Boulos, the University of Colorado, at the Jonathan Demme’s films, Oscar-nominated United Nations by invitation of Kofi Annan, Rachel Getting Married, and Zeitoun, based and annually at the Columbia University on Dave Eggers’ book about Abdulrahman department of ethnomusicology. In Zeitoun’s post-Hurricane Katrina odyssey. 2008, Mr. Ziadeh was a featured solo and ensemble performer in the Brooklyn Maqam Nasheet Waits (drums) is a drummer and Festival of Arab Music. He is considered music educator whose interest in playing an authority in maqam theory and Arab the drums was encouraged by his father, classical repertoire. legendary percussionist Frederick Waits.

13 UMS ARCHIVES

This evening’s performance marks Amir ElSaffar’s third performance under UMS auspices following his UMS debut in April 2010 as part of ’s “21st-Century Dizzy” concert at Hill Auditorium. Tonight marks the second UMS performances by Carlo De Rosa, Ole Mathisen, and Zafer Tawil, following their UMS debuts in March 2013 at Hill Auditorium with Amir ElSaffar’s Two Rivers. UMS welcomes the remaining members of the Rivers of Sound Orchestra as they make their UMS debuts this evening. Amir ElSaffar will perform his score for Written in Water live with Ragamala Dance Company this week on Friday, October 20 at the Power Center.

LOBBY INSTALLATION

Six Yards of Memory: A Photographic Retrospective Printed on and named after the length of a sari, this installation depicts the history and repertoire of Ragamala Dance Company. The piece was created to commemorate the company’s 25th anniversary season.

14 ON THE EDUCATION HORIZON…

10/20 UMS 101: Ragamala Dance Company (Pioneer High School, 601 W. Stadium Boulevard, 6:00 pm) Paid registration required; please visit bit.ly/UMSClasses to register.

10/20 Post-Performance Q&A: Ragamala Dance Company (Power Center, 121 Fletcher Street) Must have a ticket to that evening’s performance to attend.

10/21 You Can Dance: Ragamala Dance Company (Ann Arbor Y, 400 W. Washington Street, 2–3:30 pm)

11/1 UMS 101: Zakir Hussain and (Pioneer High School, 601 W. Stadium Boulevard, 5:30 pm) Paid registration required; please visit bit.ly/UMSClasses to register.

11/18 UMS 101: New York Philharmonic Young People’s Concert (Pioneer High School, 601 W. Stadium Boulevard, 12 noon) Paid registration required; please visit bit.ly/UMSClasses to register.

Educational events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

15 TONIGHT’S VICTOR FOR UMS:

Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Endowment Fund

Supporter of this evening’s performance by Amir ElSaffar’s Rivers of Sound Orchestra.

MAY WE ALSO RECOMMEND...

10/20 Ragamala Dance Company: Written in Water 11/1 Zakir Hussain and Dave Holland 11/7 China NCPA Orchestra

Tickets available at www.ums.org.