A trumpeter, santur player, vocalist and composer, Amir ElSaffar is steeped in classical and jazz traditions while also bringing the microtones and ornaments of Arabic music into play. He also is a practitioner of the endangered Iraqi maqam music, which influences both his playing and composing. His band, Rivers of Sound, features 17 musicians who blend Eastern and Western music, using fluid rhythm and pitches to create a transcultural soundscape. Tonight’s concert is part of Hancher’s Embracing Complexity initiative, designed to build understanding of contemporary Islamic cultures and Muslim identity
Photo:
Alice Gebura, courtesy of Walker Art Center
Music
Amir ElSaffar and Rivers of Sound
Presented by
Hancher
Tickets
ADULT: $35 | $25
COLLEGE STUDENT: $31 | $10
YOUTH: $17 | $10
This performance is a Group I event and eligible for a 20% discount when buying 5 or more Hancher season events in a single order. More about available discounts.
Thursday, February 8, 2018, 7:30 pm
Part of Embracing Complexity
The Wire says Amir ElSaffar is “uniquely poised to reconcile jazz and Arabic music without doing either harm.” A trumpeter, santur player, vocalist, and composer, ElSaffar is steeped in classical and jazz traditions while also bringing the microtones and ornaments idiomatic to Arabic music into play. He is also a practitioner of the endangered Iraqi maqam music, which influences both his playing and his composing. All of this adds up to the Chicago Tribune calling ElSaffar “one of the most promising figures in jazz today.”
His band, Rivers of Sound, features 17 musicians who blend eastern and western music by using resonance as their organizing principle. As pitches and rhythms become fluid, so do cultural boundaries. The result is a fresh transcultural soundscape.
Season Sponsor: WEST MUSIC
Event Sponsors:
François M. and Doris E. Abboud
Little Village
Residency Events
Open to the Public
Tuesday, February 6, 2018, 4:00 pm
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Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Paris Young in advance at (319) 467-4849 or at paris-sissel@uiowa.edu.