I’m forever searching for local eating establishments in and around the Boston area that offer live ethnic music to go along with their fine cuisine. It’s these multi-dimensional  experiences with world music that stand out as  rather special in my book. Well, I’ve located what looks to be a real gem in this regard, conveniently located no less, right near Davis Square (Somerville). The folks at the Sabur Restaurant & Lounge serve up authentic cuisine from a number of Mediterranean regions including Italy, Greece, Southern France, North Africa, the Balkans, and elsewhere. In addition, on each and every weekend, they step things up a bit with their Kafina Saturdays. Lucky diners can enjoy live world music from Greece, Turkey and the Balkan nations along with their meal. So actually, the ethnic atmosphere  here is not only multi-dimensional but multi-cultural as well.  In addition here at the Sabur, they pay attention to every little last detail of authenticity, right down to the house decor!  Take a look at the positive comments of food critics from The Boston Globe, The  Boston Phoenix , Phantom Gourmet and other local publications. And then? Why not take a little trip to the Mediterranean without ever having to leave Boston at all. 

Menu (Full version)                   

What intrigues me the most with respect to Sabur’s Mediterranean-inspired cuisine is the complex variety of flavors present in many of their individual offerings. Menu selections include  Chardonnay carrot lentil soup, Seared sea scallops with crab polenta cakes, asparagus, moscato, and truffle butter sauce, Slow roasted beet risotto with wild forest mushrooms, parmesan, roasted acorn squash, and honeydew infused honey, Apple. cherry and pistachio strudel with warm caramel and vanilla gelato, and Macedonian wild fig sundae with vanilla gelato, almond frangipane and pomegranate caramel.

Event Details:

When: Saturday evenings (9:00 p.m.)

Where: Sabur Restaurant & Lounge (Somerville)

Admission: No cover charge

More Info: 617-776-7890     

Yet another year has come to a close and yet  another installment of the Boston Music Awards is complete. This special ceremony, now in its 24th year, honors one of the most coveted local recognitions among New England’s very top musicians and members of the music trade industry. Nominees and winners are determined by a hand selected academy of over 150 local music aficionados along with the voting general public. So, the International Artist of the Year Award goes to “drum roll” … Mamadou Diop, a world fusion artist well-known for his incredible African drumming technique  and rhythm guitar artistry, for which he has developed a reputation as one of the best in the world. A professional performer for over 30 years, Diop is the epitome of multiculturalism, having been named “Humanitarian of the Year” by the Art of Living Foundation and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He firmly believes that all aspects of ones daily existence should be centered around a variety of world cultures rather than any single one, no matter what one’s original ethnic origin may be, as each and every one brings its own special value to the over-all quality of life. Undoubtedly, this philosophy ultimately translates into the trademark style of Diop and his band MAMADOU. 

MAMADOU’s over-all sound is most heavily characterized by driving Senegalese and other African rhythmic motifs accented melodically by the electric guitar. Added to this basic musical foundation are elements of a number of other diverse styles including high-life, juju, rumba, samba, salsa, and reggae. Aside from leading the band, Diop, originally from Senegal, is also responsible for the group’s original compositions. What he has managed to bring us with the creation of MAMADOU is an extraordinarily popular diversified world fusion ensemble with universal crowd appeal that memorizes audiences with its highly potent rhythms just begging one and all to move their feet and clap their hands in exhilaration.

There were five bands nominated in the international category this year. The other four nominees were Zili Misik (past winner), Debo Band (past winner), Dub Apocalypse (past winner), and Bloco AfroBrazil (past nominee). There were also other world music artists who actually won awards in additional categories including: The Dropkick Murphys (Best Artist of the Year & Best Live Artist of the Year), David Wax Museum (Song of the Year), Esperanza Spalding  (Jazz Artist of the Year). Way to go world music artists! Keep the music alive.  By the way, it’s also a pretty good bet that you will find some other  names of interest in this regard amongst the nominees, if you care to take a peek.

As a youth, Gregorio Uribe set out on a self-conducted musical tour of South America. Curious about all of the various genres of Latin music in existence at the time, he exposed himself to as many of them as he could, often in the most informal situations. Then it was off to pursue a more formal education in jazz studies at Boston’s Berklee College of Music where he graduated with honors. All of this diverse musical exposure served as a solid basis for Uribe to eventually create his own Latin genre, still distinctly Columbian, yet at the same time, highly unique and personalized as well. In fact, this new take on the music of his native homeland met with such success that it actually received the stamp of approval from the legendary Ruben Blades and international stars Aterciopelados and Bomba Estero, all of whom invited him to join them in a performance. Uribe formed his Gregorio Uribe Big Band to serve as the perfect showcase for his original compositions and re-arrangements of folk and other traditionally Columbian works. This 16-member ensemble has been known for its immense sound which is a combination of Afro-Columbian rhythms, elements of samba, jazz, and funk. 

Boston CD Release Show

Gregorio Uribe and his band have come to Boston to preview their latest cd “Pluma Y Vino“, a new venture which brings out the ensemble’s versatility. Although their original musical style remains much the same, it has been re-introduced in a much more subdued manner. Audiences will be enlightened to a quieter, yet more sensual side of  the ensemble, much of which features Uribe’s vocals and solo guitar passages. His masterfully poetic lyrics speak of the ups and downs of Columbian life, taking listeners on an intense yet ever shifting emotional journey. The music itself is still highly characterized by the presence of  Columbian folk and other Latin rhythms, including cumbia, currulao, bolero, bellerengue and trova, but in keeping with the ever-changing nature of the lyrics expresses many diverse moods, which are further enhanced through a wide variety of instrumental textures.

Gregorio Uribe and his big band enjoy a regular fan base in NYC and have also been a big hit during previous visits to Boston.  With respect to their latest cd release, it would seem that they have superceded their own already highly notable previous artistic accomplishments.  Let’s welcome them back with open arms in excited anticipation of their latest musical evolvement! 

Event Details:

When: January 20th, Friday @7:30 p.m.

Where: Regattabar at the Charles Hotel (Harvard Square)

Tickets: $20.00

               Purchase online here

More Info:  617-395-7757

(Area Restaurants)

This is one highly entertaining Balkan inspired event to be sure! Since 1997, the Zdravets folk ensemble has been faithfully providing the public with a dance party, concert, and social get together all in one, each and every month. Hit the dance floor, mix and mingle, or just sit back and chill out to the wonderful and intriguing sounds of purely authentic traditional music originating from Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonea, and their Balkan neighbors. Zdravets, who refer to themselves as “Boston’s friendly neighborhood Bulgarian band”, is well known for their ability to throw a good party with music that naturally lifts the attendees’ spirits, keeping one and all in  a festive and fun-loving mood all evening long. The dancing is performed group-style so no partners necessary. In addition, I would point out this is a very laid back event, so dress comfortably and rest assured that dance steps will be less complex in nature and will be demonstrated for the sake of any beginners in the crowd. Dancers with all levels of experience are happily accommodated for!!! Now here’s the added bonus that comes with this particular event. During the rest periods, dancers will actually be treated to a mini concert, compliments of Zdravets of course! There will also be a refreshment table on the premises where you can meet your fellow party guests. Culinary donations made in honor of the party feast are welcomed. 

The name Zdravets refers to a wild species of geranium which thrives year round on the mountain-sides of Bulgaria. To the native population, this bloom represents health and endurance. And appropriately so, such is the state of the band’s music which has itself been thriving for over 20 years! Much of their repertoire is representative of Bulgarian folk genres, which are characterized by their irregular rhythms, tightly spaced harmonic structures, and sonic intensity. The bands instrumental selections literally beckon one to get up and dance while the sharply vivid harmonies of the vocal numbers cannot help but grab ones attention. They take the authenticity of their traditional music very seriously as many of their interpretations are based on actual field recordings of native folk musicians. In addition, Zdravets performs for the most part on ethnic instruments including: kaval, gadulka, tambura, tapan, tarabuka, and gaida. Aside from regular local appearances throughout New England, this nine-member folk ensemble has appeared oversees in Bulgaria at such prestigious events as the National Folklore and Petrova Niva festivals and on native national television and radio as well. Their latest recording is entitled “Late Harvest“. Thanks to the enthusiastic and dedicated efforts of Zdravets, Bostonians can enjoy first-rate Balkan music and dance virtually every month of the year!

Event Details:

When: Saturdays (Monthly) (8:00 – 11:00 p.m.)

   Confirm schedule

Where: Church of Our Savior (Arlington)

  Confirm location

Admission: $7.00

More Info: 617-964-2003 OR zdravets.music@gmail.com            

Head on over to The Beehive in  Boston’s South End each and every Monday night for their exciting new ”Irish & Celtic Music Series“. This seisun-style performance is led by Celtic harpist, vocalist, and jazz artist Maeve Gilchrist who will be joined by a different set of guest musicians every week. An especially nice feature of this rather informal brand of entertainment is its spontaneity and variety. You never know quite which direction the music will take you in any given performance. What you do know, however, is that some of the area’s top local talent will be bringing you nothing but the best in traditional Celtic music. Gilchrist herself, already a rising star on the Boston world music scene by the of age 25, is quite well-known for her rather avant-garde style of musicianship, which often exhibits a heavy presence of chromaticism. Also of note is her exceptional ability to so freely and effortlessly allow her fingers to fly across the harp strings in a most rapid fashion.

Originally from Scotland but also of Irish heritage, Maeve spent her childhood years surrounded by a heavily music-oriented family. Although their focus was on traditional genres, she spent hours listening to her father’s rather large and eclectic collection of sound recordings. As a result of such exposure early on, Gilchrist quickly developed a keen taste for music of many different genres and cultures and has since developed into the highly innovative artist she is today. Maeve became quite a well-established musician nationally by the time she was a teenager and landed herself a scholarship overseas at the Berklee College of Music. From there she developed a highly successful professional career in the US appearing at both national and international premier events including the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, World Harp Congress, the Celtic Connections Festival and elsewhere. She has also performed with numerous world-renown musicians including Alasdair Fraser, Esperanza Spalding, Darol Anger and Vardan Ovespian. Her first cd release was an international success and she has recently produced another entitled “Song of Delight”. She currently appears locally with bassist Aidan O’Donnell. as well as Scottish folk/jazz fusion ensemble the Ultra-Modern String Quartet. With respect to her role as leader of the weekly Beehive seisuns, Maeve Gilchrist’s affinity for the new and creative should prove to be an exciting catalyst for one interesting evening of traditional Celtic music.

Event Details:

When: Mondays (Weekly) (8:00 p.m. – Midnight)

Call ahead before attending the show as some special events may interrupt regular scheduling

Where: The Beehive (South End)

Admission: No cover charge

More Info: 617-423-0069 / 617-423-0096 (Fax) / frontdesk@beehiveboston.com

For dinner reservations, call OR use online form          

            Menus 

As New Year’s Eve 2012 quickly approaches, I am happy to announce that opportunities abound in and around the Boston area to mark the celebration with an evening of world music. And why not, I ask? Here is a list of some of the ethnic-oriented music events taking place in and around town on this very special evening:

Tickets are selling out fast – Buy now!

International:

Folk Arts Center of New England - International folk dance party featuring live music by Barbara Pixton and Friends. Refreshment buffet also included

Latin

Tango Society of Boston - Dinner and dancing

Venu NYE 2012 - Dj hosted dance party emphasizing Latin music with additional genres from around the world 

Mojitos - Dj hosted Latin dance party with all-you-can-eat buffet included 

Bella Luna Milky Way Restaurant and Lounge - Cuban-themed dinner followed by Latin dance party featuring The Lee Wilson Movement

Ryles Jazz Club - Dj hosted ballroom and Latin dance party

Havana Club’s New Year’s Eve Salsa Party - Dj hosted dance party featuring live dance performances by Salsa y Control. Salsa lessons also included

Weekly Saturday night entertainment - Canga Tapas Bar 

Indian

Glitz & Glamour 2012 (Geared towards 20s & 30s crowd)  -  Dance party hosted by djs spinning Bhangra and Bollywood hits

Reggae

First Night Boston - Dance Party with award-winning band ”Hot Like Fire” bringing you reggae and soca

Precinct – Dance party featuring reggae and ska fusion with the Doctor Doom Orchestra and Danny Pease & the Regulators

Irish

Irish Cultural Centre of New England - Dinner followed by dance party featuring live Irish music

Malden Irish American Club - Dinner and dance party with live Irish music by The Noel Henry Showband

The Black Rose  - Traditional Irish dinner and Happy Hour/dance party featuring live Irish music with Sundays Well, Jim Coyle, and Celtic Clan

The Burren Pub  - Join Helena Delaney and an accompanying all-star cast of musicians for live Irish music around the bar (listing not included on music calendar)

Four Green Fields - Join the Prodigals for live Irish rock music around the bar 

Middle Eastern/Arabic

The Red Fez - Dinner and dance party featuring live Arabic music and a belly dancer.

Weekly Saturday night entertainment – Kasbah Restaurant

Greek

Olympia Restaurant - Dinner and live Greek music with Enosis

Weekly Saturday night entertainment – Brothers Kouzina, Athenian Corner

African

Uhuru Afrika’s New Year’s Eve Fete - Dj hosted African dance party which includes live percussion performances by Sidy Maiga. Also enjoy African food and drink and an additional “surprise” live performance   

The holiday season is a big deal at Mr. Dooley’s in downtown Boston! Last year’s entertainment schedule seemed like it would be pretty hard to beat, but they did it this year with the addition of a weekly Tuesday night series of Christmas parties lasting the entire month of December. Best part is, that there is plenty of live traditional Irish music to be heard and enjoyed at each and every one of these holiday shindigs which also include a St. Stephen’s Day celebration and, of course, a News Year’s eve bash, as well.  

Herein lie the event details:

December (Every Tuesday – 8:00 ’til closing) – “Irish Christmas Party Bash” - Featuring popular Irish standards and Christmas songs, as well as prizes and give-aways

Musicians:

Patsy Whelan - Highly energetic and fun-loving, this fiddler/guitarist isn’t happy until his audience is up and out of their seats dancing. Upon arriving in Boston, he rose rapidly to legendary status and besides remaining heavily active on the entertainment circuit is also included on the performance roster at numerous Irish music festivals. He has performed with some of celtic music’s biggest names including Paddy Reilly, Brendon Mulvihill, Brian Gaffney, The Waterboys, and others.

Michael “Maxi” Courtney - Originally from Ireland, he was raised within a family of musicians and had already started a professional performing career by the age of 14. As a fast learner he never had a formal music lesson in his life. He toured Europe before coming to Boston where he became quite popular amongst the local Irish music circuit. He is known for his great vocals and the ability to display an impressive degree of melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic complexity in his guitar playing. 

December 26th (Monday – 8:30 ’til closing) - ”St. Stephen’s Night Party” – Featuring prizes and give-aways, Irish dinner specials, Irish Christmas crackers, and Irish selection boxes

Musicians:

Devri - This band is known for its ”partying” spirit! While maintaining a close-knit connection to Ireland, this Boston ensemble has toured internationally performing all genres of Irish music. Their membership includes Declan Houton, Larry Flint, Steve O’Callaghan and Chuck Parrish on fiddle, mandolin, banjo, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, whistle, and drums.          

December 31st (Saturday - 8:00 ’til closing) - ”New Years Eve 2012” – Featuring appetizer buffet, cash bar, party favors, and a champagne toast (21+ only / $30.00 – Online purchase)

Musicians:

Devri

Further Details:

Directions: Mr. Dooley’s Boston Tavern (Downtown Boston)

More Info: 617-338-5656          

In the mood for a little holiday fun? And who isn’t this time of year! The folks from the Hula Workshop of Southern New England are giving dance lessons at Johnny D’s in Somerville. Now here is your rare chance to learn this most beautiful Polynesian performance art  with expert instructors from the area’s top rated  Hawaiian cultural organization. Collectively they represent 30+ years of experience as instructors, performers, and cultural consultants. Led by Carol Anne Buckley, workshop founder and head instructor, this informal class is designed to teach you more than just dance moves. At the end of the session you will actually walk away with some knowledge of Hawaiian culture and language as well. Learn the art of storytelling as it is represented through expressive hula movements in both traditional and modern styles. Students with all levels of experience are welcome. And to top it all off world music fans, John “Tin Pan Handle” Hicks and friends will be on hand to liven up the party with plenty of Polynesian music for your dancing and listening pleasure!

If it just so happens that you come away from this event with a hunger for more of the same, then by all means check out the Hula Workshop’s web site for more info. on all that they have to offer in the way of classes and private lessons, event planning and hosting, shows, and more. Buckley, herself, is actually a former resident of Hawaii where she learned her art from the islands’ top dance masters. Also armed with a college education in Hawaiian language arts she has enjoyed a highly versatile career, sharing her expertise with others in numerous aspects of the native culture. So if you want to learn a little hula, while having a whole lot of fun doing it, just let the experts at the Hula Workshop of Southern New England show you the ropes! 

Event Details:

Extraordinary dancing, acting, and , of course musicianship is what the Ahlam Selene Dance Company’s  holiday production of the ”The Little Drummer Boy“ is all about. The Raks Nativity Theatrical Show is a retelling of the biblical tale through the most lovely and elegant art of Raqs Sharqi, commonly known in this culture as belly dance. Although this is the most widely embraced form of Arabic dance among the masses, Ahlam Selene has chosen to combine it with other lesser known forms of Arabic folk dance as well in order to bring audiences a dance showpiece that is especially well suited to effective story telling. In the true spirit of dance theater, each of these genres have been somewhat re-interpreted so as to heighten their dramatic impact upon the audience who is thus presented with a performance filled with emotional intrigue and enchantment, not to mention the added treat of a little humor now and then to lighten the mood.  The show was such a hit last year that 2011′s performance is actually a repeat. Also a repeat is the charity of choice for this year’s benefit event, “Cradles to Crayons“. In 2010, Raks Nativity raised $1,400 to provide the needy youths of Massachusetts with school supplies and other essentials required to afford them a healthy, enriching learning and living environment during childhood that will ultimately serve as a sound basis for a successful adult life. 

The specially featured role of the little drummer boy will be danced and played (with the assistance of fellow percussionists Amira and Alber) by Johara who is not only known for her dance skills but is quite the formidable doumbek artist as well. Imagine dancing and drumming at the same time! In addition to receiving numerous local, national, and international accolades as a performer she has also managed to build quite a versatile career as a choreographer, instructor, and events planner, earning the utmost respect of arts critics everywhere. She is currently the director, producer, and award-winning choreographer of Boston’s Snake Dance Theater Company. Learn more about her many notable accomplishments here.

This year’s additional line-up of talented entertainers includes: Cecilia al-Bahr, Susi Good, Badriya Al-Badi’a, Alaric, Alizah Afet, Qamar, Najmat, Nepenthe Ahlam, Jemileh Nour, Maia Selene, Lee Lynch, Angelo Scott D’Amato, Tricia Hopkins, Johanna Lynn, Aurel D’Agostino, Aleksie, Anahit Karyan, and Samira.

Raks Naqtivity’s charitable goal this year is to raise $2,500 for ”Cradles to Crayons” and judging from the fabulous success of the show last year, looks to do just that! What better way to usher in the holiday season than with a fabulous spectacle of world music and dance, compliments of the  Ahlam Selene Dance Company.

Event Details:

When: December 11th, Sunday @ 7:30 p.m.

Where: Cambridge YMCA

Tickets: $15.00 (General admission) / $12.00 (Group Admission- 4 or more)

                                        (Online purchase)

More Info:

Contact Nepenthe:

 nepenthe@bellydancernepenthe.com

Contact Nadira:

http://www.nadirajamal.com/contact.html

Innovation! Innovation! Innovation! Such is the musical mantra for popular world fusion jazz ensemble Eastern Blok. This group remains ever ready to outdo themselves by pushing the envelope just a little further with each subsequent performance, often through the employment of unconventional rhythmic patterns and offbeat phrasings. They further challenge themselves by experimenting with music that varies in mood from the intensely lyrical and profoundly emotional to the more animated and light hearted yet electrifying. Their inventive re-interpretations of old standards and innovative original compositions are a by-product of the artful blending of many diverse styles with jazz including classical, Macedonian, Bulgarian, and Serbian folk, Klezmer, rock and a smattering of Middle Eastern flavorings as well. The band members are all formally trained musicians and virtuosos in their own right.  So as one might expect, their music is as distinguished in its complexity as it is technically advanced. Nevertheless however, Eastern Blok takes pride in creating  music that appeals to all types of listeners and that also ultimately continues to stand the test of time. They will tell you that key to their success in this regard lies in the masterful blending of  both classical and jazz genres in a musical setting that is ever evolving yet still highly pleasing to the vast majority of listeners’ ears.

Founded in 2004 by Goran Ivanovic, lead composer of the group, and Doug Rosenberg the band continues to tour nationally, performing at America’s top entertainment venues. The current membership includes Ivanovic on classical guitar, Rosenberg on woodwinds, Matthew Ulery on upright bass, and Michael Caskey on percussion. A major breakthrough in the group’s career came in 2005 when their self-titled debut release “Goran Ivanovic Group” (became Eastern Block in 2006) received a national award for Album of the Year by the publishers of Acoustic Guitar Magazine. More accolades followed that same year when the group’s single entitled “Blacksmith’s Dance” stood out from thousands of other competition entries in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest to make it all the way  to the finalist’s round! They have also been featured on Chicago Public Radio and in 2007 were among the ensembles specially showcased at that city’s World Music Festival, one of the largest musical celebrations of its kind in the US. So, if you’re in the mood to get your creative juices flowing, an evening with world fusion artists Eastern Blok, should definitely be on your “to do” list!

Event Details: