Hypnotizing, intoxicating and exotic. Magic Carpet honors ancient music while taking a bold step into the future. Transcending geographical boundaries, this music group takes the audience on an exhilarating ride through time and space. With the vibrations of Jazz, Reggae, and Funk, blended with the traditions of Africa, the Middle East, and India, Magic Carpet embarks on a spiritual journey every time they take off.
The eclectic ensemble is composed of, Aha Doo aka Tewodros Aklilu (keyboards), Derf Noskcaj aka Fred Jackson (alto sax), Ryan "Ra'yon" Mayer (percussion) , Makaya McCraven aka "Lord Bang" (drum set) Parish "Pfunk" Hick (bass guitar) Tim "Cream" Jones (guitar). The diversity of the musicians creates the unique sound that is Magic Carpet. Each instrumentalist is focused on cultivating excellence in his particular area of study and experience. This is the contribution that he brings to the "Carpet", while maintaining an openness to learn and share new ideas, which enables the evolution of this World Music that is the "Magic",
Magic Carpet is committed to advancing the realm of Musical Anthropology.
The members are not only musicians, but teachers that regularly engage in excavating the history of music and the connection between ancient cultures. A goal of the group is to promote the similarities of people through the context of music. Energetically exploring traditional rhythms, North African and Middle Eastern maqams, East African pentatonic scales, Indian ragas, and Western Jazz modes and improvisation, they use these elements as threads to weave the tapestry of Magic Carpet.
Collectively, members in the band have performed and recorded with accomplished artists such as Najib Bahri, Alvin Batiste, Morris Jennings, Howard Levy, Alberto Mizrahi, Dewey Redman, Hamid Drake, Issa Boulos, Stuart Rosenberg, Boys II Men, Fred Anderson, Steel Pulse, Ludacris, Talib Kweli, Burning Spear, Israel Vibration, Nicole Mitchell, Ato Alemayehu Fanta, Ato Teferra Mekonnen, and many more.
Magic Carpet independently released their debut album, "In Flight", in the fall of 2007. This album documents their three years and counting of regular Friday night performances at the popular Ethiopian restaurant in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, Ras Dashen. Recently, they began performing semi-weekly at Viceroy Indian Restaurant, on the famous strip of Devon Avenue in Chicago. They have performed at various music and art festivals over the years. They are currently working on collaborations with dancers of Indian, Tunisian, Egyptian, and Ethiopian traditions to further the Magic Carpet experience.
Enjoy traveling the crossroads of culture with Magic Carpet today!!
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