I'm thinking about bringing Melissa Murphey of Ishtar (Pittsburgh, PA) here to the greater Boston area on Saturday, June 30th to do a Middle Eastern music workshop and then a open musician and dance party after. Melissa has been organizing these music parties, what she calls "Jalsah" in NYC and Pittsburg to great success.

"Jalsah" is an original Middle Eastern music event that invites all musicians (regardless of instrument) and drummers to sit in and play Middle Eastern music for open floor dancing all night. This is a participatory community event designed to bring together dancers and musicians inspired by Middle Eastern music. Experienced....inexperienced...all are welcome!

In order to bring her and her band here, I would need at least 15 to 20 musicans and/or drummers to take a workshop with Melissa and or Carmine Guida in the afternoon and 50 or so dancers and musician/drummers to come to the party to make it feastable.

Would you be interested?
•Do you know melody players who would like to learn how to play some Middle Eastern songs?
•Do you know drummers that know the basic Middle Eastern rhythms but don't know how to play them in songs and would be interested in learning how?
•Do you know dancers that would like the opportunity to open dance to live Middle Eastern music in a safe, non-club environment?

Melissa and Carmine have scored sheet music and produced a CD of the songs that could be taught at the workshop and played that night at the music/dance party. (See below.)

Any suggestions/feedback would be most helpful,

Thanks in advance,


____________
Erzulie
aka Judith
www.erzuliedancer.com
erzulie@erzuliedancer.com
617 686-1843




Here's some information from Mellisa:
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A jalsah or qa'dah is an informal musical gathering. It is a derivative of the arabic word jalasa, which means "to sit". Typically an event reminiscent of the musical sessions of medieval courts, it is still a common medium through which middle-eastern composers, musicians and listeners (sammi'ah) gather to share their love of music.

Jalsah is an original Middle Eastern music event that invites all musicians (regardless of instrument) and drummers to sit in and play Middle Eastern music for open floor dancing all night. This is a participatory community event designed to bring together dancers and musicians inspired by Middle Eastern music. Experienced....inexperienced...all are welcome!

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Carmine Guida and Melissa Murphey have recorded an instructional CD that has 12 plain straightforward songs that will enable drummers or musicians to learn to play the traditional tunes.

This CD includes such classics as Layla, Misirlou, Shisheler, Fire Dance and Sulukule. There are no distracting vocals or excessive ornamentation here, just the plain songs for learning purposes. The MP3s are available for immediate download at www.dorku.com. they are only 1 dollar each!

All soundfiles are in the same key as the sheet music available at www.dorku.com.

In addition, GUITAR TABLATURE is now available for select Middle Eastern songs at www.dorku.com. Sheet music is available for key of C instruments, B flat instruments (trumpet, clarinet , soprano and tenor sax) and Bass clef instruments (cello, trombone, baritone)

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