Episodes
Becca Stevens, Ara Dinkjian, Ismail Lumanovski, and Tamer Pinarbaşi to discuss their new collaboration. Michael League, Snarky Puppy bandleader and founder of GroundUP Music, wrote most of the songs for the album along with producing it. The record focuses on blending Becca’s effortless vocal talent and exquisite compositions with The Secret Trio’s mastered musical traditions. Becca has worked with the likes of David Crosby, Jacob Collier, Brad Mehldau, Esperanza Spalding, and more.
Published 09/24/21
Published 09/24/21
Talented young Oud player and singer Aliya Cycon joins the podcast. Singing in Arabic, Spanish and English. Notable collaborations include Jordanian music stars Tareq Jundi, Nasser Salameh and Yarub Smirat. Tunisian icon Zied Gharsa, and LA-based pop singer Naïka. Aliya is sponsored by Godin Guitars, La Bella Strings, and Avid Technology. She is currently in Spain, and not surrounded by Arab taksim style music as much anymore, some more Spanish influences in her current environment.
Published 04/16/20
Persian Kanun Master Emad Shakuri joins the podcast. He discusses how he started playing the kanun, performing with a multitude of musicians, world music and his approach to arranging music. He has worked with top artists including George Wasouf from Lebanon, George Arasy, Hany Shaker from Egypt, Hata Muraghi from Iraq, Ibrahim Tatlises, Emra with Jaylan, Ahmati from Albania, Pandoura, Amza, Spiros Kotis from Greece, Moeen and Googoosh from Iran & others, including with jazz & fusion...
Published 03/10/20
Violinist, Educator, Producer & Writer Dr. Nune Melik joins the podcast. As a soloist she has performed at Carnegie Hall and founded the Hidden Treasure International, which comprises research, performance, and lectures of rarely heard music. Recently she received her doctorate from McGill University, defending her thesis on Arno Babajanian. She also recently performed as a featured soloist with Jimmy Buffett.
Published 10/31/19
Danny Shamoun discusses how he started playing Middle Eastern Music, performing with System of a Down (SOAD), Scars of Broadway, the Arabian Ney Flute and the impact of music theory and Makam microtonal modal based music. He discusses the impact of Ibraham Tatlises. Exposure to Chaldeans, Lebanese, Syrians. Working with Ray Mayorga and introduced to John Dolmayan, Viza and The Apex Theory, and Metallica. Joining Daron Malakian's Scars on Broadway. Impact of Mike Bordin from Faith No More.
Published 07/11/19
Aram interviews Hachig Kazarian from Detroit, whose clarinet defines the Armenian-American clarinet sound which shaped the musical experiences of entire generations of Diaspora Armenians living in the United States for much of the 20th century. Having attended the famed Juilliard School of Music in the 60’s, Kazarian was a key member of the widely acclaimed “Kef Time bands”. Kazarian’s music fuses Middle Eastern melody and rhythm with a Big Band sound, defined by his virtuosic improvisation...
Published 06/20/19
Aram interviews Joseph Tayoun, an accomplished percussionist and educator specializing in Middle Eastern and World music based in Philadelphia. They discuss the history of Philadelphia's Middle East Night Club, his experience playing in a multitude of world music projects and his Star Trek Party band, The Roddenberries, upcoming release. Topics include: Tayoun as the torchbearer of the Philadelphia middle eastern music scene, an accomplished percussionist and the time spent at his family’s...
Published 06/06/19
Andrew and Aram interview Peter Deneff, an accomplished Pianist and Jazz Fusion musician, about his background, his involvement in the Los Angeles Middle Eastern Music club Scene, and his approach to microtonality and Jazz music. Topics Include Deneff’s background as a Greek-American keyboard/piano musician, growing up in Long Beach/Los Angeles. Impact of the bouzouki on his musical development and interests and working with artists from other ethnic backgrounds. Collecting LPs and copying...
Published 05/24/19
AK sits down and interviews Oud master John Berberian about his life, 50-year career in music, balancing work and the arts and performing throughout the country. John discusses Working with record labels making albums with Mainstream Records, Verve Forecast, RCA and MGM starting in the early 1960s. The thriving Middle Eastern music scene of Berberian's early years, and the mixing and collaboration of different cultures. Berberian's father's role as an oud player in his musical development,...
Published 05/13/19
We’re huge fans of the Oud – a fretless pear- shaped instrument that’s similar to a lute and known as “the grandfather of the guitar”. We love the dynamics and flexibility it affords players – not being restricted to frets can be liberating and offers so much in terms of tone and sound that you simply can’t get anywhere else! Especially when it’s in non-Middle Eastern contexts. We’ve compiled a list of 7 notable oud players you need to listen to if you’re just getting to know the instrum
Published 05/13/19
We welcome you to the first episode of the TAQS.IM Middle Eastern Music Podcast, which discusses playing, performing and appreciating Arabic, Armenian, Assyrian, Balkan, Greek, Kurdish, Persian, Turkish music and more. Introduction to the TAQS.IM podcast with Andrew Kzirian and Aram Hovagimian of TAQS.IM, focusing on Middle-Eastern music. TAQS.IM is your gateway to Middle Eastern sound. Background and discussion of the TAQS.IM project and the meaning of the term musically and figuratively....
Published 05/13/19