Simon Shaheen & Qantara February 16, 2007

Palestinian-American Simon Shaheen is one of the most significant Arab musicians of his generation, a master of both the fiddle and the oud, the traditional lute that his father also played. Dazzling listeners with his soaring technique, melodic ingenuity, and unparalleled grace, Shaheen has won international acclaim from Carnegie Hall to Cairo's Opera House and Beirut's Théâtre de la Ville. His all-star group Qantara (the name means "arch" or "bridge" in Arabic) fuses Arab, jazz, Western classical, and Latin American music into a unique blend of sound (first heard to great acclaim on the group's astonishing debut album, Blue Flame). "Ecstasy best describes the exquisite performance given by this virtuoso" (Detroit Times).

Official Website: http://www.calperfs.berkeley.edu/presents/season/2006/world_stage/ss_q.php