Eleni Govetas Kompanía with Duo al Rouh

Come together for a vibrant night of world music celebrating the rich sounds and traditions of Greece, the Balkans, and the Arab world. Don’t miss your chance to experience Eleni Govetas Kompanía and Duo al Rouh live for an unforgettable evening of spirited rhythms, soulful melodies, and extraordinary musicianship.

Eleni Govetas Kompanía brings traditional Greek and Balkan folk music to the stage with a fierce, modern edge. Inspired by their love of regional sounds, as well as their shared Balkan and Mediterranean ancestry, the band—led by violinist Eleni Govetas—stays true to its roots while infusing elements of punk and other influences from its members’ diverse musical backgrounds. The band’s other three members comprise EGK’s rhythm section, featuring Mik Bewsky on guitar, Bobby Govetas on bass, and Nico Sophiea on drums.

https://elenigovetas.bandcamp.com/album/egk

Duo al Rouh is Palestinian multi-instrumentalist Zafer Tawil performing alongside friend, collaborator, and oud player Rabbi Zachi Asher – songs of sorrow and longing and ecstacy, traditional Arabic maqam musics, Sufi prayers and original works that give voice to the brokenness and possibility of our days. They will be joined by friend and collaborator, Rich Stein on percussion.

Jerusalem born Zafer Tawil is fluent on the violin, oud, qanun, percussion and nay. He is the most in demand musician of the Brooklyn Arabic music community, and he is the most joyful. He has toured internationally with prestigious artists and composed for film and dance, lending his signature musical accent to an eclectic array of productions.

Rabbi Zachi Asher has spent twenty years pursuing the oud and Arabic maqam. He is steeped in the literature and music of Hebrew piyut, song-poems from the Arab Jewish communities of Syria, Iraq, and Morocco. Asher has collaborated with masterful artists including his teacher Bassam Saba, Yacouba Sissoko, Alsarah, and Lala Tamar, and composed four albums exploring new influences in Maqam music that honor the traditions and aesthetics of the old sound. Asher is the creative director of the Temenos Center for the Arts, a New York 501c3.

Performing together in times of great distress, the two present a rare vision of collaborative futures. At the crossroads of art and justice, music and spirituality, their laughter and stories are a welcome corner of the world to settle into for a night, and dream of the world that’s slowly on its way.