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AL-ANDALUS ENSEMBLE “21 STRINGS” CONCERT PERFORMANCE“A delightful proposition of exquisite music” -El Pais, Madrid, Spain

Winners of the Peoples Grammy Award for “Best World Music Song of 2009” JPFolks

CONTACT: CONTACT INFORMATION HEREAl-Andalus Ensemble Events: www.Andalus.com music@andalus.com (503) 230-2379

WHAT: Al-Andalus Ensemble “21 Strings” Concert Performance

WHEN: DATETIME.

WHERE: VENUE NAME, VENUE ADDRESS, CITY, STATE ZIPPERTENENT DIRECTIONS IF ANY

DETAILS: Experience the richness of Arabic culture with Al-Andalus Ensemble this summer, when the groupperforms “Arches” to celebrate the golden anniversary of PSU’s Middle East Studies Center!

TICKETS: TICKET INFORMATION HERE

CONTACT: CONTACT INFORMATION HEREAndalus Events: (503) 230-2379 Email: music@andalus.com Web: www.Andalus.com

WEBSITE: EVENT WEBSITEhttp://www.Andalus.com

“Unique, deeply moving music--a development as fruitful as Astor Piazzolla’swhen he shocked the Argentinean establishment with his “Nuevo Tango” -Ted Gioia, author “History of Jazz”

“Tarik & Julia Banzi create a new musical language that unites the East & West” - Aramco World Magazine)

“Plus qu’un simple spectacle, c’est une traversée musicale et une invitation au voyage”- Institut Monde Arabe. Paris, France)

Join the award winning international Al-Andalus Ensemble for a poignant evening “21 STRINGS” on DATE &TIME HERE. in VENUE NAME & ADDRESS. This work stands as a premiere bridge between the worlds’ musiccultures, bridging East and West as well as Classical and World music genres. Al-Andalus Ensemble founders Tarik& Julia Banzi (oud & flamenco guitar) join with Grammy winning Charlie Bisharat (violinist for phenoms AlanisMorissette, The Rolling Stones, Jane's Addiction, Yanni and others). Al Andalus was a time when Christians, Jews& Muslims lived in peaceful co-existence (Spain 711-1492). Tarik & Julia Banzi, founders of the Al-AndalusEnsemble were recently awarded the “Just Plain Folks” award (www.JPFolks.com) for the “Best World Music Songof 2009”. The winning song was selected from over 560,000 songs entered from 163 countries around the world inwhat is the world's largest Independent Music Awards. Advance Tickets: PHONE ADVANCE TICKETS WEB

Led by oudist Tarik Banzi, the Al-Andalus Ensemble is internationally known for a creative fusion which etches afine line between the exquisite and raw, the passionate and powerful while treating the listener to a confluence of thebest of the East and West. These sophisticated artists with extraordinary breadth and creativity, soulfully mergeclassical, jazz and contemporary music with musical traditions from the Middle East, North Africa and Europe,embodying the new vision of America as a modern society that embraces its cosmopolitan cultural heritage.

Charting new terrain with Grammy Award winning violinist, Charlie Bisharat, this contemporary World-chamber trioof oud, violin and guitar moves with grace between the classical and the modern, subtly weaving tradition withsophisticated innovation into an energetic musical tapestry performed with a freshness and originality that has earnedthe Al-Andalus Ensemble a devoted international audience.

The genre “Contemporary Andalusian” evolved to describe the Banzi’s informed approach that organically blendsoud and flamenco guitar while melding the past with the present in what has been hailed as “a new musical languagethat unites the East & West” (Aramco World Magazine). The Al-Andalus Ensemble is steeped in tradition,beautifully and soulfully merging classical, jazz and contemporary music with the music from the Middle East, NorthAfrica and Spain to create what reviewers have called “a delightful proposition of exquisite music” (El Pais, Madrid,

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Spain). Performing to universal acclaim. Their international engagements have taken them to from Belgium, Canada,Croatia, France, Germany and Holland, to Italy, Morocco, Spain, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates and the UnitedStates.

The core of the Al-Andalus Ensemble is comprised of the married couple Tarik and Julia who make their homebetween Morocco and the USA. Similar to the Renaissance that inspires them, they are scholars, musiciansand artists. Their lives reflect their commitment to create peaceful understanding between the East and the West.They present historically informed performances of Andalusian works and also create new compositions, rooted inthe Andalusian legacy.

Historically, Al-Andalus refers to Spain from 711-1492 AD. During these eight centuries, Andalusian Spainwitnessed a cultural melding between Africa, the East and the West, as well as among Christians, Muslims & Jews.An outstanding model of inclusion and tolerance, Al-Andalus was renown for the synergy of diverse cultures thatresulted in remarkable artistic, scientific and cultural enlightenments. The period of Al-Andalus produced profoundand far-reaching consequences, setting the stage for the European Renaissance. It provides an exemplary historicalmodel to rise above modern-day conflicts and challenges. The Al-Andalus Ensemble locates its creative impetus inthe rebirth of Al-Andalus in todays cultural landscape.

Delicately attuned to one another the Al-Andalus Ensemble has pursued a singular artistic vision reminding us thatthe intricate interplay of diverse voices is the geography of cultural harmony. Far from the scholarly approach ofEarly Music or the traditionalism of much World Music, this collaboration yields a vigorous new hybrid: acontemporary World-chamber ensemble skillfully creating new and original music, retaining the essential soul andspirit of the Arab, North African and European sources while fearlessly exploring new territory.

Tarik Banzi “a superbly gifted player” (All Music Guide) was born to an Andalusian family in Tetuan, Morocco andtraces his roots back to Al-Andalus. He later lived in Madrid, Spain where he completed his doctoral studies in FineArts and collaborated with flamenco-jazz music masters such as Paco de Lucia, Manolo Sanlúcar, Enrique Morenteand Jorge Pardo among others. Grammy Award winning violinist Charlie Bisharat is often heard with the LosAngeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and has graced the albums of such phenoms asAlanis Morissette, The Rolling Stones, Jane's Addiction, Aerosmith, Yanni, Kitaro, Strunz & Farah, Don Grusin,Oscar Castro-Neves, Shadowfax and John Tesh. Bisharat has been featured in scores of soundtracks from Swordfish,Texas Rangers, Steal Big Steal Little to on-screen performances of Austin Powers Gold Member, The Drew CareyShow and Friends. Julia Banzi is one of the few female flamenco guitarists worldwide. She lived in Spain for overa decade, studying flamenco with some of Spain’s finest guitarists such as Manolo Sanlucar and Isidro Munoz, sheholds a Doctorate degree in Ethnomusicology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and teaches guitar atReed College and Lewis & Clark College.

This trio of twenty-one strings pushes the boundaries of sonority and of texture to bring out performances ofwonderful commitment. Audiences can expect a program with rich and unusual instrumentation. The oud (parent ofthe Renaissance lute), ney (Arabic reed flute) and darbuka (ceramic drum) are entwined with the warmly emotionalviolin and punctuated with flamenco guitar to create a “unique, deeply moving music--a development as fruitful asAstor Piazzolla’s when he shocked the Argentinean establishment with his “Nuevo Tango” (Ted Gioia critic, authorof “History of Jazz”). The concert promises to be a fascinating evening where parallels and contrasts will be drawnbetween the old and the new. Highlights of the program include contemporary works as well as traditional piecesfrom Al-Andalus, Afghanistan and Iraq. Proud emblems, suspended within sound, each infused with its ownpoignant expression of nostalgia. The flow of these works, tugs at our heartstrings and inspires affection. The longingfor an idealistic time permeates the works and functions as a center of gravity for the program.

The artists of the Al-Andalus Ensemble build a new artistic language that unifies Eastern & Western cultures andgenerates a work that is rich, layered and socially conscious, expanding the artistic horizons of both experts andnovices alike. Further the advancement of international understanding, goodwill & peace by supporting a group thatreflects a place and time where Christians, Jews & Muslims lived together for a cultural flourishing: Al-Andalus.

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We would appreciate it greatly if you would please assist us in bringing this unique event to the attention of thepublic. If you have any questions or require any further information, please contact: Tickets PUT TICKETINFORMATION HERE Al Andalus Events: www.Andalus.com 503-230-2379 EVENT INFORMATION HERE/This event is co-sponsored by CO-SPONSORS HERE

Artist BiosTARIK BANZI (Oudist, Composer) traces his roots back to Al-Andalus, Spain. He was born to one of the oldAndalusian families in Tetuan, Morocco and grew up immersed in the Andalusian musical tradition. Tarik has hascollaborated with flamenco and Jazz masters such as Paco de Lucia, Manolo Sanlucar, Enrique Morente andJorge Pardo where Tarik introduced mainstays to modern flamenco such as the darbuka (clay or metal drum) andUdu (clay pot drum). Tarik’s students Fain Duenas and Vicente Molina went on to form the Grammy nominatedWorld music group Radio Tarifa. Tarik’s diversity can be seen in the works of Classical, Jazz, Folk, New Age,Rock and World Music artists from Billy Oskay (Nightnoise), Guadalquivir, La Trinca, Tijeritas, MichaelShreive and Graham Leer (Carlos Santana), Dan Crary, Carolyn Cruso, Lief Sorby, Magical Strings, PaulWinter, John Doan, Oregon Repertory Singers and Enrique Valdivieso. Tarik is an accomplished visual artistwho completed his Doctoral studies in Fine Arts at the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain His artwork isincluded in collections throughout the world.

CHARLIE BISHARAT (Violinist) His work has graced the albums of such pop phenoms as Alanis Morissette,The Rolling Stones, Jane’s Addiction, and Aerosmith. His diversity can be heard on the works of Jazz and WorldMusic artists Strunz & Farah, Don Grusin, and Oscar Castro-Neves. And his accomplishments have been featured inscores of soundtracks from Swordfish, Texas Rangers, Steal Big Steal Little to on-screen performances of AustinPowers Gold Member, The Drew Carey Show and Friends. A Grammy Award-winning performer, Mr. Bisharathas toured the world time and again with Jazz and New Age groups as varied as Shadowfax, Kitaro, Yanni andJohn Tesh. He has composed and produced tracks for record-setting album projects as well. His range of styles hasled him from pop to jazz to classical, where he is often heard subbing with the Los Angeles PhilharmonicOrchestra and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. A published author as well, Charlie has written and recordedthe jazz improvisational book and CD Beyond Classical Violin for Cherry Lane Music. His works for smallensembles range from the original opus Lying In Wait by the all-female quartet Cello, to string arrangements forrock guitarist Andy Summers of The Police. Charlie continues to travel the globe performing in concert andrecording with some of the most accomplished musicians of our day.

JULIA BANZI (Ph.D) (guitarist, ethnomusicologist, co-composer) The world of guitar boasts few women whoignite the sound of the guitar, and in the flamenco culture, even fewer still. Julia lived in Spain for over a decadewhere she specialized in flamenco and established herself as one of a very few female flamenco guitarists worldwide.In Andalucia’s Granada, Sanlucar de Barrameda and later at Madrid’s Amor de Dios studios, Julia workedaccompanying notable dance instructors such as Ciro, La Tate & Manolete and studied with some of Spain’s finestguitarists including Manolo Sanlucar, Isidro Muñoz, David Serva & Felipe Maya. Her passion for flamenco ledher to explore its roots. She went on to complete her doctorate in Ethnomusicology at the University of California,Santa Barbara. As an ethnomusicologist Julia is especially interested in constructing historical ethnographies--seeking ways in understanding how the long past influences and shapes present musical changes. Artist, composerand one of a very few female flamenco guitarists worldwide, her work reflects her many years of living, studying andperforming in North Africa and Spain. She teaches guitar at Reed College and Lewis & Clark College.