World News

Sat Sept 20 - Rajasthan - Music & Dance Of The Desert: Rupayan - From the windswept Great Thar Desert in Rajasthan (“the land of kings”) in northwestern India comes the famed Rupayan ensemble with its mesmerizing music. Composed of members of the Langa (“song giver”) and Manghaniyar hereditary groups of itinerant entertainers, Rupayan performs a program of vibrant folk music encompassing driving percussion, ecstatic Sufi songs, and hypnotic sarangi (bowed lute) and algoza (double flute). The ensemble is joined by the Kalapriya Dancers under the direction of Pranita Jain, the “Dance Jewel of Rajasthan.”  Rupayan has performed worldwide, and toured for three years with the Zingaro equestrian show.

Sun Sept 21 - Whirling Dervishes Of Damascus With Sheikh Hamza Shakkur & Ens. Al-Kindi - The Whirling Dervishes Of Damascus have captivated audiences throughout the world with their spellbinding mystical dance that dates back to the 13th century when Rumi, a towering figure of Sufism, created it as a means of ‘spinning off’ worldly diversion to find oneness with the Divine. The Dervishes are joined by Sheikh Hamza Shakkur, the grand master of Muslim sacred song who officiates at the Great Mosque of Damascus, and Al-Kindi, one of the leading ensembles devoted to classical Arab music, on ‘ud (lute), qanun (zither), ney (flute) and percussion.

Fri Sept 26 - Electric Ganesha Land: Prasanna - Prasanna is the best-known performer of traditional Carnatic (South Indian) music on the electric guitar.  In addition to performing Indian music with major Indian artists, such as Hariprasad Chaurasia and L. Subrmaniam, he has appeared with top musicians in jazz and fusion music, including Joe Lovano, Airto Moreira, Larry Coryell and Vijay Iyer.  This program features traditional Carnatic music, as well as selections from Electric Ganesha Land, Prasanna’s wild and ecstatic tribute album to Jimi Hendrix.  He is accompanied by percussion masters on mrdangam (barrel drum), ghatam (clay pot) and kanjira (tambourine).

Sat Sept 27 - Sephardic Song Festival: Savina Yannatou - The evocative Greek singer Savina Yannatou and Primavera en Salonico, the ensemble with which she has toured and recorded for over ten years, are known for their mastery and explorations of various traditions throughout the Mediterranean. They will perform deeply moving and haunting renditions of songs from the once thriving Greek-Jewish community of Salonica (now known as Thessaloniki).  The program also includes selections from their new ECM recording Songs of An Other that features songs from different cultures interpreted in Ms. Yannatou's distinctive style.

Sun Sept 28 - Sephardic Song Festival: Mor Karbasi - Described as “one of the great young divas of the global music scene” in the UK’s The Guardian, Mor Karbasi is a young London-based Israeli singer descended from Moroccan and Persian Jews. Singing in Spanish, Hebrew, Ladino and occasionally English, she performs songs that date back to the late 15th century when Ladino-speaking Jews were expelled from Spain she also sings striking new works penned by herself and her guitarist Joe Taylor. Her repertoire includes songs highly influenced by flamenco. New York debut.

Fri Oct 3 - Piedmont String Band Music: Carolina Chocolate Drops - The Carolina Chocolate Drops are leaders in the revival of the old-time black string band music of the Piedmont region of the Carolinas – a rich banjo and fiddle tradition that was the antecedent of Appalachian old-time music, bluegrass, ragtime and blues.   The group’s members - Justin Robinson, Rhiannon Giddens and Dom Flemons - have been acclaimed for their spirited interpretations of this back porch foot-stomping music that reached its height of popularity in the 1920s and 1930s. They honed their skills under the tutelage of octogenarian fiddler Joe Thompson, one of the last black traditional string band players alive today.

Sat Oct 4 - NY Tango Festival – Tango Noir: Los Hermanos Macanas, Roberto Reis & Mariana Parma Tango Noir, the premiere of a new show conceived and directed by Mariela Franganillo, combines humor with the dark side of tango with four breathtaking dancers:  Los Hermanos Macanas (the brothers Enrique and Guillermo Di Fazio), who comprise one of the hottest acts in the international tango scene and are making their New York theatrical debut Roberto Reis, of Forever Tango fame and Mariana Parma of Swango. The music features singer Hector Pablo Pereyra and ensemble led by Gustavo Casenave.

Sat Oct 4 - NY Tango Festival: All-Night Milonga - Tine Herreman, one of NYC's best tango DJs, will spin uplifting tangos, soaring valses and irresistible milongas, each a different dance form within the family of Argentine tango. Milongas were banned in Argentina throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and saw a resurgence in the 1990s today they have become one of the world's great dance party experiences. The milonga goes from 11pm to 5am. Preceding the milonga at 10:30pm, there will be a dance lesson with Mariela Franganillo.

Fri Oct 10 - Kathy Mattea/Les Charbonniers De L’Enfer - Kathy Mattea, Grammy and Country Music Association award-winning vocalist, carries on the Appalachian tradition of “songcatcher” with her acclaimed new album Coal, which pays tribute to her West Virginian family heritage in the region’s coal mining culture. Quebec’s Les Charbonniers De L’Enfer (“coal miners from Hell”), comprised of five superb singers including two who performed with La Bottine Souriante, perform inspired a cappella interpretations of Quebecois music.

Fri Oct 17 - William Cepeda’s Puerto Rican Explosion - This exhilarating program featuring 17 musicians, singers, and dancers is under the direction of the incomparable trombonist/composer William Cepeda.  A member of Puerto Rico’s legendary Cepeda family, he has worked with a veritable “who’s who” in the jazz and Latin music worlds, including Dizzy Gillespie and Eddie Palmieri. The program ranges from the traditional to the contemporary, encompassing the dynamic African-derived bomba and plena – the island’s two most distinctive folkloric traditions – and innovative “Afrorican jazz,” which melds jazz harmonies with popular Caribbean rhythms.

Sat Oct 18 - Persian Classical Music: Kayhan Kalhor Ensemble - Iran's kamancheh (spike fiddle) virtuoso Kayhan Kalhor, well known for his work with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project, Ghazal, and Masters of Persian Music, performs new works in the Persian classical tradition with his ensemble.

Sat Oct 24 - Korean Dance & Music -Tradition & Change: In-Young Sohn’s NOW Dance Under the artistic direction of renowned dancer/choreographer In-Young Sohn, the Seoul-based NOW Dance Company has entranced audiences with its interpretations of Korean rituals contrasted with modern dance.  Its repertoire ranges from the ancient whirling of Korean shamans and the raucous joyfulness of the harvest moon festival dance to an exploration of the relationship between calligraphy and dance. The musicians perform on kayagum (zither), taegum (flute), ching (brass gong), t’aep’ypngso (oboe), and the changgu and puk drums.

Sat Nov 1 - Bharata Natyam Of India: Priyadarsini Govind - One of India’s most celebrated dancers, the Chennai-based Priyadarsini Govind is particularly noted for her adherence to tradition.  Her command of the language of the ancient dance form of Bharata Natyam – the great classical tradition of South India characterized by complex footwork, abstract movements, and elaborate mime – is unparalleled.  Ms. Govind, a disciple of Guru Swamimalai K. Rajarathnam and Kalanidhi Narayanan, has been hailed for her exquisite performances for over 30 years.  Accompaniment on vocals, mrdangam (barrel drum) and violin.

Sun Nov 2 - The Soul of Mali: Toumani Diabate - Malian master musician Toumani Diabate presents his masterpiece for solo kora, The Mande Variations, which can be heard on the highly acclaimed World Circuit/Nonesuch CD.  From a long line of jalis or griots (oral historians and praise singers), Diabate is the guardian of an ancient musical tradition as well as a revered innovator. He has been instrumental in introducing the kora, a 21-string harp lute, to audiences around the world and in developing the kora into a solo concert instrument. Over the past two decades he has been noted for his solo work, as well as collaborations with Taj Mahal, Ali Farka Toure, Malicool, and the flamenco group Ketama.

Sat Nov 8 - Queen Of Afro-Peruvian Song: Eva Ayllón - Renowned worldwide as the “queen of lando,” Eva Ayllón blends the sensual music of her native Peru with African and Spanish influences, performing a wildly popular and joyous dance music known as musica criolla. 

Fri Nov 14 - Gospel! Sacred Brass: McCollough Sons Of Thunder - New York’s own hard-driving Pentecostal brass band, McCollough Sons of Thunder, has rocked audiences with its rousing renditions of inspirational pieces arranged for trombones, trumpets, sousaphones, and drums. The group, consisting of members of Harlem’s United House of Prayer for All People Church, is under the direction of the extraordinary trombonist Elder Edward Babb, winner of the National Heritage Fellowship. Emerging from the Holiness/Pentecostal movement that took literally the Psalm’s commandment to “praise the Lord with song and trumpet,” this brass shout band melds the sounds of early blues and jazz with the driving rhythms of southern sanctified music.

Thurs Nov 20 - Pipa Music Of China: Liu Fang - Liu Fang, a foremost representative of the younger generation of pipa (lute) soloists, was born in China in 1974 and studied at the Shanghai Conservatory for Music.  Since moving to Canada in 1996, she has had an impressive international career and received many honors including the prestigious New Millennium Prize and L’Académie Charles Cros Award (French equivalent of the Grammy).  Her repertoire features music from the classical tradition, as well as contemporary works, and includes pieces rarely heard pieces.

Sat Nov 22 - Polyphonic Vocal Music Of Corsica: I Muvrini - For the past two decades, I Muvrini has captivated international audiences with secular and sacred songs from its native Mediterranean island. The ensemble’s haunting a cappella harmonies speak of love, labor, exile and misfortune.

Fri Jan 16 & Sat Jan 17 - Tango, Historias Breves: Guillermina Quiroga - Direct from Argentina comes the passionate and sensuous tango with the company of the remarkable dancer and choreographer Guillermina Quiroga, whose extensive credits include appearances in Tango x2, Forever Tango, and the film Valentina's Tango. The ensemble returns with an updated version of Tango, Historias Breves (Tango, Brief Stories), its 2006 sold-out program that delves deeply into the fundamental role destiny plays. Ms. Quiroga is joined by some of Argentina’s leading tango dancers and the musical ensemble Los Cosos De Al Lao led by bandoneon player Gustavo Paglia.

Fri Jan 24 - Afro-Puerto Rican Music & Dance: Los Pleneros De La 21 - Los Pleneros De La 21, the premier company in the US performing the exciting African-derived bomba and plena traditions of Puerto Rico, has turned concerts halls around the world into community celebrations.  Led by Juan Gutierrez, a recipient of the prestigious National Heritage Fellowship, the group is noted for its rich polyrhythmic drumming, jubilant call-and-response singing, and vibrant dancing. Since its inception over 25 years ago, Los Pleneros has become a cultural institution in New York, paving the way for many emerging ensembles.

Fri Jan 30 - Music From Hungary: Beáta Palya - A new voice in the international music scene, Hungary’s rising star Beáta Palya merges Hungarian folk and Gypsy music with jazz and pop influences from other cultures. Violin, cimbalom, accordion, and bass accompaniment.

Sat Jan 31 - South African Voices: Ladysmith Black Mambazo - For more than 40 years, the legendary Ladysmith Black Mambazo has combined the intricate rhythms and harmonies of South African musical traditions with the sounds and sentiments of gospel. Its stunning a cappella vocal harmonies based on Zulu isicathamiya township songs - the dynamic Zulu style that was born in the mines of South Africa – have become one of the most celebrated musical sounds in the world. Ladysmith’s uplifting music has entranced audiences around the world and first came to international fame with Paul Simon’s Graceland album and tour.

Feb 7, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22 - New York Flamenco Festival - New York's annual flamenco celebration, now in its ninth year, features dancers, musicians, and singers direct from Andalusia, Spain! Artists to be announced.

Sat Feb 21 - New York Flamenco Festival: Estrella Morente - Estrella Morente has captivated audiences and critics alike with her compelling performances of flamenco and popular Spanish songs in the Andalusian tradition.  Morente, the daughter of renowned singer Enrique Morente and dancer Aurora Carbonell, brings a fresh and passionate new voice to the revered flamenco tradition.

Thurs Mar 5 - Iraqi Ud: Rahim AlHaj - Rahim AlHaj comes from Iraq, a country once famous for its ‘ud (lute) players. A virtuoso ‘udist and composer, he was born in Baghdad where he studied and performed with the great Munir Bashir.  He has been a political refugee in the US since 2000, and dedicated himself to keeping the music of his embattled homeland alive. His music is inspired by exile and new beginnings, and delicately combines traditional Iraqi maqams (modes) with contemporary styles without altering the foundation of the traditional Iraqi school of ‘ud.

Fri Mar 6 - Maskanda Music Of South Africa: Shiyani Ngcobo - Rooted in traditional Zulu sung poetry, maskanda is characterized by driving finger-style guitar rhythms, down-home fiddling, and call-and-response singing. For more than 30 years, Shiyani Ngcobo (acoustic guitar, vocals) has been a major force in this powerful urban tradition that is rarely heard outside South Africa. A maskanda maestro known for “his gentle, but intense performance style,” (fRoots), he gives voice to the proud struggles of the Zulu people through recent history. Accompaniment on electric bass, concertina, percussion, vocals, and dance.

Sat Mar 7 - Aswat (Voices) - Celebrating The Golden Age Of Arab Music: Simon Shaheen - The Middle Eastern musical event of the year! ‘Ud (lute) and violin master Simon Shaheen, one of the Arab world’s most important artists, recreates the golden age of Arab song (1920s-1950s) with the works of such famed composers and singers as Mohammad Abdel Wahhab, Farid Al-Atrash, Wadi Al-Safi, Um Kulthum, Asmahan, and Fairouz. Under his direction, the Aswat Orchestra of renowned instrumentalists and special guest vocalists Ibrahim Azzam and Khalil Abonula of Palestine, Sonia M’barek of Tunisia, and Rima Khcheich of Lebanon provide an evening of classic melodies, exquisite vocals, and lush orchestral arrangements.

Fri Mar 20 - Drums & Dances Of Guinea: Sidiki Conde & Tokounou - Dancer/drummer/singer Sidiki Conde leads his ensemble Tokounou in a mesmerizing and powerful performance of the traditional arts of Guinea. Conde, despite losing the use of his legs when he was 14, followed his dream to become a dancer. He has performed with a number of premier African ensembles, including Les Merveilles de Guinée, and such popular artists as Youssou N'Dour, Salif Keita, and Baba Maal. He was honored in 2007 by the National Endowment for the Arts as a National Heritage Fellow.

Sat Mar 21 - World Of Percussion - Artists from a wide array of world music traditions join together for a dazzling celebration of percussion.  The program is under the direction of Adam Rudolph, a “percussion wizard” (Downbeat) who has been creating cross-cultural music since the 1970s. Performers from Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East include the dynamic Brazilian drummer Dendê, Moroccan dumbek (drum) player Brahim Fribgane, Uzbekistan's incomparable doira (frame drum) player Abbos Kosimov, and others to be announced. The program is dedicated to Don Cherry, who graced many WMI improvisation festivals in the 1980s and 1990s.

Fri Mar 27 - Chamamé Music of Argentina: Chango Spasiuk - A commanding virtuoso accordionist, Chango Spasiuk has revitalized the powerful tradition of chamamé, a little-known folkloric music from northeastern Argentina.

Fri Apr 17 - Masters Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar & Hula: Keola & Moana Beamer - The “aloha spirit” comes to New York with the sweet sounds of slack key guitar (called Hawaii’s soul or back porch music), and the beautiful art of hula. Keola Beamer, a member of one of Hawaii’s most famous musical families, has been a leader in the Hawaiian cultural renaissance since the 1970s. An engaging veteran performer on guitar and Hawaiian nose flute, he has been influential in revitalizing traditional Hawaiian music. He is joined by his wife, Moana Beamer, who showcases many hula styles, and also plays several ancient Hawaiian percussive instruments. Special guest artists to be announced.

Sat Apr 18 - Mali Beat!: Habib Koite & Bamada - Malian superstar Habib Koite, one of Africa’s most popular musicians, comes from a long line of griots (oral historians and praise singers). Acclaimed for his distinctive guitar style, he brings together different regional styles in his music, creating a new pan-Malian approach he also integrates rock and worldbeat without compromising his cherished roots. He has performed with his group Bamada for two decades, transfixing audiences with their infectious music.

Sun Apr 26 - Classical Music of North India: Pandit Shivkumar Sharma & Zakir Hussain - The inimitable tabla player Zakir Hussain joins Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, a master of the santoor (similar to a hammered dulcimer and admired for its lush, shimmering sound), in a rhythmically charged program featuring ragas and talas from the North Indian classical tradition.

Sat May 2 - Tribute to Ustad Bismillah Khan - Shehnai Music Of India: Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan - Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan, the premier shehnai maestro of eastern India, is one of the last of the great shehnai players. His instrument, an Indian oboe, is commonly associated with weddings and outdoor celebrations, and was developed into an important and popular instrument in the North Indian classical repertoire by the late Ustad Bismillah Khan. Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan is from a family of renowned shehnai exponents from Benaras, and is known for his innovative style and mastery over the classical and semi-classical and folk music repertoire. Accompaniment is provided by Subhen Chatterjee on tabla (drums) and Khan’s son, Hassan Haider, on shehnai.

Sat May 9, 8 p.m. - Sing Sing - Music & Dance from Aboriginal Australia, Papua New Guinea & West Papua - This program provides a rare opportunity to experience the vibrant and fascinating traditions of the indigenous peoples of Australia, Papua New Guinea and West Papua.  Sing Sing (which takes its name from the Papua New Guinean expression meaning “large musical gathering”) features master artists from Oceania in a celebration of traditional and contemporary music and dance.  The concert includes haunting Highland and Sepik bamboo flutes of Papua New Guinea, frenzied garamut drumming of the Manus Islands, sorrowful laments of the Bougainville people, powerful ceremonies of Arnham Land, and stirring dances from the Torres Strait Islands.