Jennifer Rawlings ONE WOMAN PERFORMANCE (6PM) TAKSIM (8:30PM)Tonight At Cornelia Street Cafe

"Like two chemicals that flare upon touching, the music is a remarkable hybrid of two cultures." Boston Herald American

Oudist Haig Manoukian celebrates the musical traditions of the Middle East, India and Africa in improvisations that combine control of classical form and modern sensibility. His current collaborations with the groups Alba, Orchestra Kef, and Sounds of Taraab express his love for the rhythms and modal structures of Andalusia, Turkey, and East Africa. In addition, Haig is active with Taksim, a Middle-Eastern jazz fusion band, and Transition, an ensemble that regularly performs Armenian, Arab, and Turkish music. For many years, he has taught and performed at Balkan and Middle Eastern camps throughout the United States.

Lee Baronian is Souren’s son; he could have had no better grounding for the masterful technique and musical awareness he brings to the dumbek and other percussion instruments. He has a virtuosic young group of his own called Charged Particles, the next chapter in the meeting of East and West.

Mal Stein has mastered the complexities of compound meters like no other drummer; his command of that specialty defines the state of the art today. He grew up in the company of jazz greats, his father Richard having been himself both a drummer and a jazz-club entrepreneur. When not powering up Taksim, Mal is very active playing in New York and Europe Mal Stein is Currently playing with Epiphany Project, Mad Juana, and The Mikel Paris Trio.