Reem Kelani – One of the most important Arab singers of her generation!

Tuesday, April 9th at 7 PM– Traditions Café and World Folk Art
Reem Kelani will provide an authoritative, captivating introduction to music of the Arab uprisings drawn from her experiences in Tahrir Square during the 2011 Egyptian revolution, with short demonstrations of song accompanied by jazz pianist Bruno Heinen. The singer’s debut album “Sprinting Gazelle: Palestinian songs from the Motherland and the Diaspora” gained worldwide acclaim for musical excellence and intellectual integrity.

“Her voice combines the poignancy of Billie Holiday with the glass-busting power of Aretha Franklin ” – Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, The Independent

She currently studies and records the music of Egyptian composer Sayyid Darwish (1892-1923), “the father of contemporary Arabic music.” Her profile in the Arab and non-Arab world continues to grow, all the more to her credit as an unsigned artist who has preserved her independence – musically, spiritually and politically. For the past decade, Kelani has worked with the best of British jazz musicians, introducing them to and training them in Arabic music. She has toured extensively in the UK and internationally, and brought musicians together on international tours, extending her UK based line-up to include performers from Syria, Egypt, Iran, Turkey and Portugal. Kelani is back in Washington five years after her residency at Seattle International Children’s Festival. She will also perform April 12th at Seattle’s Town Hall.

“Palestinian singer Reem Kelani was a new name in my world, but the woman was so endearing I’ll never forget her.” – Gary Bannister, Artistic director, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle

Tickets: $15, Student/low income: $10
Traditions Café and World Folk Art
300 5th Avenue SW, Olympia, WA 98501
360-705-2819

http://reemkelani.com/
http://www.traditionsfairtrade.com/pages/tradhome.html?../events/index.php~Content

This event is cosponsored by the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice.