Shabava

Shabava is a trio with members trained in Iran, Morocco and India. They combine their backgrounds in classical Persian, Arabic and Hindustani music to deliver fresh presentations of traditional pieces and create original compositions with a unique voice. Shabava features Bobak Salehi on Persian kamancheh, sehtar and vocals, Nat Hulskamp on Arabic oud and Chaz Hastings or Deepayan Acharjya on Indian tablas. MEMBERS---- BOBAK SALEHI (Kamancheh, Setar, Violin) A talented multi instrumentalist, Bobak was born in Tehran, Iran. He ventured into the music realm when he was eight years old, under the direction of his father maestero Hossein Salehi, and later studied violin with other Iranian master artists. He expanded his training into Western classical music by studying with classical violinists Anita Jones and Eileen Dies. In 1999 the Oregon Historical Society recognized him as master artist on Setar (Persian Long-necked Lute). In the same year, he founded the Damâm Ensemble, focusing on the classical and folk music of Iran. He has studies with crossover recording artist Kayhan Kalhor of the Ghazal Ensemble and Pirayeh Pourafar of the Lian Ensemble. In 2003 he co-founded a latin-middle eastern fusion group râz where he focused on blending the popular music of latin america and the middle east.---NAT HULSKAMP (Oud, Flamenco Guitar) Nat was born in Portland, OR. He has studied gamelan music and lived in Bali, Indonesia. His interest in Flamenco led him to study with Tarik and Julia Banzi of Al Andalus. He continued to pursue his interest in the Arabic roots of flamenco with study in Morocco. After returning to the US, he moved to Seattle to study ethnomusicology at the University of Washington. There he worked with the groups Carmona Flamenco, The Rez Trio and others ranging in style from Hungarian Csardas and Gypsy swing to flamenco. He now resides in Portland, where he performs regularly with râz , Puro Arte Flamenco Dance Company, and Shabâvâ. ---CHAZ HASTINGS (Tabla) Another Native of Portland, Chaz has been studying world percussion for five years, starting with Arabic darbouka, followed by his study of the North Indian tabla, with Doug Scheuerell of Eugene. Chaz performed tabla at the Willamette Valley Folk Festival and the Eugene World Rhythm Festival, while studying world music at the University of Oregon. He plays a variety of musical genres and has most recently begun studying Latin instruments such as Conga and Cajon. Chaz will to travel to India in the first part of 2006, to study tabla in depth with the master player Vishal Nagar.