GRAFTON — Visiting international artists will celebrate the unifying power of music, song and rhythm with roots in the Middle East in a rare appearance on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. in Phelps Barn in Grafton. The concert is free (with donations for the artists appreciated).
Rowan Storm, an American based in Greece, is recognized internationally for her mastery of diverse Middle Eastern hand drumming and singing traditions, as well as her pioneering symmetrical teaching method and frame drum designs, including the Signature Rowan Storm Dayereh by Cooperman, and the Thinline Frame Drum by Remo.
Storm's Sazandeh Women's Ensemble is dedicated to the ancient, durable heritage of Middle Eastern women's frame drum gatherings, with traditional songs, dances, and storytelling.
Nima Janmohammadi is the first Iranian graduate student at the New England Conservatory. He is a composer and multi-instrumentalist, specializing in traditional Iranian instruments including setar, kemancheh and oud. He has studied with many masters of Persian music including Mohammad Reza Lotfi, and has performed with Zolfonoun. Nima is working on a series of recordings of his most recent compositions, while his most recent CD is recognized as the most influential recording of Iran in 2011.
Tareq Rantisi was born in Jerusalem and grew up playing percussion in Ramallah, Palestine. A graduate student at Berklee College of Music, he performs and teaches diverse percussion styles internationally, ranging from traditional Middle Eastern to jazz with many ensembles, virtuosic musicians and composers, such as Ramallah First Group, Kudsi Erguner, Jack deJohnette, Paul Winter, Simone Shaheen, and Bassam Saba. His many CD credits include Turab's Hada Leil, Away's Banafsaji, and Oyoun Al Kalaam Dalouna Group.
Phelps Barn is located next to the Old Tavern on Main Street. For directions, call 802-843-2231. For more information about the concert and the artists, call 802-463-9750 or email info@cooperman.com.