I edited my profile with Abdel Halim Hafez' "Mawood"
I was pleased to see that three of my favorite LP's have been reissued finally. I still consider them to be masterpieces. They are: Andy Summers & Robert Fripp's "I Advance Masked" and "Bewitched".
I recently found out that Chris Squire's 1975 solo LP has been released on CD (finally, at least for the NA continent) along with a bonus DVD.
Here is the still-notorious video for
Andy Summers & Robert Fripp: I Advance Masked
I'm a lifelong percussionist (erm, musician), and also take the role of producing and engineering recordings and concert events in the Twin Cities. Some of my more recent recording credits include Reve du Faun, Scott 'Mateo' Davies, and Pete Super (Dark Field).
I have been playing Arabic, Balkan & Latin Percussion for over 20 years, Kit of Drums for over 10, and also flirt with other instruments from many different cultures.
I am 19 year veteran performer of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, and have also performed at the Colorado, Arizona, So. Cal, and North Carolina RenFests, until I decided to work on a career as a musician in the Twin Cities.
I have held a place on Board of Directors for the Indian Music Society of Minnesota for the past few years. I also act as a "General Manager of Allsorts" at IMSOM events.
I also enjoy quite a few other forms of dance, particularly Northern Indian Kathak. I participated in a workshop here in the Twin Cities which was taught by the doyen of the Lucknow Kalka-Bindadin gharana of Kathak dance, and his entourage. Simply amazing, and I wish I had the time and energy to persue that.
Bands I have played with - or with members of:
The Maroons, Shangoya, Boiled in Lead, Electric Arab Orchestra, Layalli Sharque, Machinery Hill, The Beggars, Pennywhistle, Cassandra Shore and the Jawahiir Dance Company, Margo Abdo O'Dell & Co., The Georges Lammam Orchestra, Cazadores, Sheep of Joy, Big Surf, IS, A Crash of Rhinos, Rai Action Collective, Touareg et al
Right now I am playing with two groups in the Twin Cities:
Saharan Nights, which is a continuation (of sorts) of the band called
Electric Arab Orchestra...
Which was probably the USA's only Arabic rock band in known history, existent for more than 15 years, and called it quits in the year 2000.
It seems that SN is going on 'light duty' for the middle of this decade, given all of the trouble we have had finding a decent frontperson/lead singer here in the Twin Cities.
I am also playing more often with Machinery Hill now, which has been rather pleasant, as I get to play a number of different styles of music, and it's pretty casual.
I also go to various drumjams around the Twin Cities looking to find "The Groove"...Sometimes it appears, sometimes not, but it's always elusive :)
