Portland FolkMusic Society Popular Brothers of the Baladi open 14th season
by J. Michael Kearsey
The Portland FolkMusic Society (PFS) presents the best in folk/acoustic/Old Time/Roots Music at the monthly Concert Series, now in its 14th season!
This month's Portland FolkMusic Society showcases an 'unplugged' performance by Middle Eastern/World Music group, the Brothers of the Baladi, on Friday, Nov. 21. Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 7:30 p.m.
The Brothers of the Baladi have traveled the musical world in their 30-year career. The word baladi is an Arabic word for "folk, people, country and countrymen." In this context, the band received its name many years ago in Yuma, Ariz., where leader Michael Beach was teaching school. He began drumming to back up a belly dancer and became so intrigued with the music, lyrical content and language that he has played and sung it ever since. In 1978, Beach relocated to Oregon where he teamed up with the late Joseph Pusey.
In 1989, Michael Kearsey added his bass and vocals to their global sound duo (and sometimes trio) and toured the U.S. and Canada extensively. They developed a huge following - especially with the many Middle Eastern belly dancers around the world. They released three well-loved belly dance albums: Dance with Gladness (1982), Food of Love (1983) and Beyond the Tenth (1989).
In 1980, they (along with Leo Defambeaux) built and started the infamous Gypsy Stage at the Oregon Country Fair in Veneta, Ore. Pusey left in 1991 but personnel changes have always been the key to the sound and the success of the Brothers.
In 1992, Beach released Basic Middle Eastern Rhythms, the first instructional video of Middle Eastern Drums released in America. Beach continues to be a very popular clinician, teaching Middle Eastern / World music Rhythm workshops. The current lineup includes Beach fronting the band on doumbek / Arabic tabla, riq, def and lead vocals; Kearsey on fretless acoustic bass; Geoff George on GEM Arabic keyboards; Mark Giles on percussion; and Clark Salisbury on Turkish saz and jimbush, bouzouki and guitars.
In 1995, Michael Shrieve, of the original Santana band, produced and performed on their fifth CD Eye on the World. This CD includes their Middle Eastern version of The Rolling Stones' Paint it Black as heard on NPR.
One of their most popular and best selling CDs is the 2000 holiday CD A Time of Peace, featuring traditional Christmas songs performed on acoustic Middle Eastern instruments and rhythms.
B.O.B.'s 11th CD, this year's Just Do What's Right, features Baladized versions of For What It's Worth, Rockin in the Free World and Chris Rhea's Nothing to Fear, as well as six politically-charged originals and arrangements of classic Arabic, Persian, Spanish and North African songs.
The Brothers of the Baladi music was featured recently on TV's Lost and Sexual Healing as well as XM and NPR radio and Thom Hartmann's Air America programs. Their credits include featured music in Jesus in Egypt (a documentary premiered in Cairo in 2006); soundtracks for the Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Midsummer Night's Dream and Comedy of Errors; live theatre for Portland Theater's Kismet and Insight Out's One; featured music for Quest for Immortality - Treasures of Ancient Egypt; and soundtracks for over 50 Middle Eastern belly dance videos.
"A sound that knows no borders," says the LA Times.
The concert is at Carvlin Hall, 1636 S.E. Hickory St (enter on S.E. 16th just north of S.E. Division).
Admission is $10 for PFS members, $12 general admission, $5 ages 12-18, under 12 free. For reservations call 503-452-0130.
There is no smoking and no alcohol, but there are food and beverages available and it is a relaxed and enjoyable spot to bring the family or meet friends - or make new friends who love Folk music! For more information, visit www.balandi.com , www.portlandfolkmusic.org or www.myspace.com/portlandfolkmuicsociety , your connection to FolkMusic in the Pacific Northwest!