RBA Season Opens With the New York Debut Of Nibal Malshi

Robert Browning Associates, Lotus Music & Dance, and Roulette in association with Brooklyn Maqam present the opening concert of Robert Browning Associates' 2021/22 season, with the NY debut of soulful vocalist Nibal Malshi.

The concert takes place on Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 8:00pm at Roulette, 509 Atlantic Avenue at 3rd Avenue, Downtown Brooklyn.

Tickets: $25 in advance; $30 at door; $20 students, seniors at door
Box office: 917-267-0363

This captivating program of vocal and instrumental works features some of the finest Arab artists living in the US, as well as emerging names in Middle Eastern music. The exquisite Palestinian singer Nibal Malshi, who has been noted for her evocative vocals, graduated from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, and performed with such virtuoso musicians as Simon Shaheen and the National Arab Orchestra under the direction of Michael Ibrahim. The ensemble is led by the young master qanun (zither) player Firas Zreik and features Gabriel Dahrieh on violin, Zafer Tawil on oud (lute), John Murchison on bass, Johnny Farraj on riqq (small frame drum), and Gilbert Mansour on tabla (goblet drum). The program includes a wide range of selections from the 20th-century classical Arab repertoire of the Levantine - Egyptian region, including works of "Golden Age" greats Umm Kulthum, Abdel Wahab and Fayrouz, and such composers as Sunbati and the Rahbani Brothers. The concert is curated by percussionist Johnny Farraj and marks the New York debut of Nibal Malshi.

"The Golden Age of Arabic music flourished from 1930 to 1970, in what today is called the Near East, the geographical region spanning Syria to Egypt, with Cairo as its epicenter. The period witnessed unparalleled musical growth, proliferation, and innovation, and its music achieved a wide reach across the Arab world, initially propelled by phonographic technology in the first decade of the 20th century and later by radio, cinema, and eventually television. As a result, music from the Golden Age traveled extremely well and became universal in the Arab world. For better or for worse, the music of the Golden Age is often used as the single or the most prominent representative of Arabic music, both in the Arab world and abroad. The Golden Age came at the end of a cultural renaissance called al-nahda (literally, "the awakening"), during which the Arab world reclaimed its identity from Ottoman control, and Arabic music experienced a revival alongside Turkish/Ottoman music. The nahda era music practiced at the beginning of the 20th century was largely a remnant of 19th-century music, but it laid the foundation and paved the way for the Golden Age." (Excerpted from Inside Arabic Music by Johnny Farraj and Sami Abu Shumays)

Nibal Malshi, born in Haifa and raised in the village of Isfya on Mount Carmel, began singing at the age of five. She has devoted her life to the love of music inspired by many Arab and Mediterranean artists, and has performed in her homeland, Europe (including the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris), and in the US with such noted artists as Simon Shaheen and the National Arab Orchestra. She graduated from the Academy of Music and Dance in Jerusalem, where she was the first to major in Middle Eastern singing; she also majored in dance, thus earning two bachelor degrees. She received the Al-Qattan Foundation scholarship for performing arts and was chosen to participate in a dance workshop partnered with Brussels's Royal Flemish Theatre for a month in Ramallah, a Voice for Peace project in Germany, and musician programs in London. She has composed various songs and was named the "Singer of the Year" in 2010 in Haifa. She is currently working on several new songs to be released soon that were composed by her and Lebanese, Egyptian and Palestinian artists. In addition to her work as a musician and a dancer, she is an actress who has performed in the 2010 film Jerusalem Bride directed by Sahira Dibas, and in plays using the poetry of Samih' Al-Qasem, Shakeeb Jahshan, and Khalil Gibran.

Firas Zreik is a Palestinian qanun virtuoso, composer, arranger and educator based in New York City. At the age of 18, he received a full presidential scholarship (the school's most prestigious award) from Berklee College of Music, and graduated with bachelor degrees in Performance and Jazz Composition. He has worked, recorded and performed with International Artists of the highest caliber, including Roger Waters, Simon Shaheen, Bassam Saba, Amal Murkus, Amir ElSaffar, and Aynur Dogan. He performed throughout the US, Europe and the Middle East, both as a performer and a musical director, in some of the most important venues and festivals, including Boston Symphony Hall, Lincoln Center, Carthage International Festival, Savannah Music Festival, Institut du Monde Arabe, Teatro Mediterraneo, Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, and the Smithsonian Museum.

Gabriel Dahrieh is a violin master from Aleppo, Syria. He spent decades in Venezuela before moving to the US, performing regularly with the Caracas Symphony Orchestra, as well as accompanying the great pillars of Arab music of the 20th century such as Wadih Al Safi, Sabah, Fayrouz, and Sabah Fakhri. He is regarded as one of the finest violinists in Arab music.

Zafer Tawil, a Palestinian musician based in New York City, is known for his mastery on oud, violin, qanun, and Arab percussion. He has performed and recorded with numerous artists, ranging from the pop star Sting to avant-garde composer/performer Elliott Sharp to major Arab musicians such as Amir ElSaffar, Simon Shaheen, Cheb Mami, and Bassam Saba. Zafer has composed music for a number of film soundtracks, most recently Jonathan Demme's My Favorite American (not yet released), Rachel Getting Married, and the documentary Until When.

John Murchison is one of the most in-demand bassists for traditional Arab music in the US. He is known for his active role in several musical circles, performing primarily in pop and musical theater, jazz, avant-garde music, and traditional music from the Middle East and Africa. In addition to his work on bass, he also performs regularly on qanun, gimbri, oud, ney, and percussion. He is co-founder of Brooklyn Maqam, an organization dedicated to presenting, promoting, and building community around Arab music in the metropolitan area. He has performed in a variety of theater productions from downtown to Times Square, including Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812.

Johnny Farraj is a Lebanese-born musician and software engineer of Palestinian descent. His main instrument is the riqq; he also plays the oud and sings. He created MaqamWorld.com, the leading Internet reference on Arabic music theory, and co-authored with Sami Abu Shumays the comprehensive reference book Inside Arabic Music. He is a frequent Arab music blogger, teacher and performer, as well as a lifelong listener.

Gilbert Mansour, a brilliant percussionist who graduated from Berklee College of Music, has performed with the Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra and accompanied various renowned Middle Eastern artists around the world. He played on the Middle Eastern version of The Voice and The Idol. Mansour has shared the stage with many acclaimed artists such as Luis Enrique, Simon Shaheen, Marcel Khalife, Trio Joubran, Pepe De Lucia, Gian Marco, Javier Limon, and Susana Baca.

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