April 17: Ara Dinkjian & the NY Gypsy All-Stars (RBA)
This entrancing evening blends Armenian, Balkan, Middle Eastern music and jazz composed by Ara Dinkjian, one of the world’s top oud (fretless lute) players. Dinkjian began his musical career by accompanying his father Onnik Dinkjian, a celebrated Armenian folk and liturgical singer; he later founded the acclaimed Night Ark quartet, and in recent years has performed with The Secret Trio.
He will be joined by the New York Gypsy All-Stars: Tamer Pinarbasi (kanun -zither), Ismail Lumanovski (clarinet), Marius Van Den Brink (keyboards), Panagiotis Andreou (electric bass), and Engin Gunaydin (drums) — classically-trained virtuosi coming from the world’s most prestigious music conservatories who perform music that highlights their diverse cultural backgrounds.
This event is presented by Roulette in partnership with Robert Browning Associates, Brooklyn Maqam, and Lotus Music & Dance.
April 21: Brooklyn Čalgija
Brooklyn Čalgija takes its name and sound from an urban folk tradition of Slavic Macedonia and the southern Balkans. Emerging in the late 19th century within the Ottoman cultural sphere, čalgija (from the Turkish çalgı, “instrument”) brings together Ottoman classical aesthetics with Slavic and Romani influences into a refined café and salon style.
Shaped by the dance rhythms of the Balkans and melodies based on makam, čalgija is performed on oud, violin, clarinet, kanun, daire and darbuka. This vast repertoire is sung in Macedonian, and performances often feature taksim, creating a richly ornamented, old-world sound.
Adam Good - oud
Greg Square - clarinet
John Murchison - kanun
Jenny Luna - voice, percussion
Matt Moran - darbuka
Jerry Kisslinger - daire
$20 Suggested at the door
Tue, Apr 21 @ 8:00PM Sisters Brooklyn, 900 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11238