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Global Thursdays Multicultural Series Returns February 5
If the poor U.S. economy and the long, cold Michigan winter make you long for faraway places, consider Comerica/Ford Global Thursdays at the Arab American National Museum, where you can Hear the World…Here! for less than the cost of a CD or a travel guidebook.
The Winter/Spring 2009 season opener on February 5, Santa Cruz River Band, transports listeners with the sounds of Mexico and the American Southwest. The global itinerary continues with music from Native America, India and China; spoken-word performance from a Palestinian perspective; and even comedy from the Middle East. It’s a great way to reconnect with your own cultural heritage or explore those you’ve been curious about.
Starting this season, adventurous listeners will save money and time on Global Thursdays. All tickets purchased in advance are now just $8. Museum Members are always admitted for $8, in advance or at the door. Non-Member tickets at the door are now just $10. Advance tickets for all Global Thursdays shows are now available online only at www.arabamericanmuseum.org, allowing concertgoers to buy tickets at their convenience with just a couple of clicks.
To save even more, opt for a three-show package for just $20. Starting Monday, January 19, simply visit the Global Thursdays home page at www.arabamericanmuseum.org and select the option entitled Three Shows for Just $20. You’ll get a special pass to present at the three shows of your choice (April 2 benefit performance is excluded from this offer).
On Thursday, April 2, oud and violin virtuoso Simon Shaheen appears in a performance benefitting the AANM. For this show only, tickets are $20; Museum Members and students $15.
“Global Thursdays is special to us and it excites our audiences, who come from everywhere, by opening the Museum to them with offerings which create a dialogue and deepen an understanding of other cultures through music, dance, poetry and other art forms,” says AANM Curator of Cultural Programming Ralph Valdez.
“It’s wonderful to see culturally diverse audiences come together in such an intimate setting, being exposed to other cultures and even new art forms emerging in their own community.”
The Arab American National Museum salutes Global Thursdays title sponsors Ford Motor Company and Comerica Charitable Foundation for their vital continuing support. WDET-FM 101.9 and www.ArabDetroit.com are media sponsors for this season. DoubleTree Hotel Dearborn provides Global Thursdays artist accommodations.
The AANM is very pleased to collaborate with the following community-based organizations during the 2009 Winter/Spring season: Community of Latino Artists Visionaries and Educators (CLAVE); Center of Music Performing Arts Southwest (COMPAS); The North American Indian Association; Between The Lines (www.pridesource.com); InsideOut Literary Arts Project (www.insideoutdetroit.org); Springfed Arts (www.springfed.org); and Council of Organizations of Asian Indians in Michigan (COAIM).
View the full schedule and buy tickets online at www.arabamericanmuseum.org. All Global Thursdays performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and take place in the Auditorium on the Lower Level of the Arab American National Museum, 13624 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn. Free, lighted parking is available in the municipal lot behind the Museum. Questions? Call 313.624.0215.
Comerica/Ford Global Thursdays Schedule:
February 5 7:30 p.m.
Santa Cruz River Band
Mexican American Roots Music
Performing in English, Spanish, Welsh, and American Indian languages, Santa Cruz River Band offers an innovative and powerful musical program filled with the history and mystical lore of Mexico and the American Southwest. Their hauntingly beautiful sound is filled with intricate vocal harmonies and masterful musicianship. The band lineup includes Michael J. Ronstadt (brother of vocalist Linda Ronstadt) and Teodoro “Ted” Ramirez. More at www.santacruzriverband.com. In collaboration with Community of Latino Artists Visionaries (CLAVE) and Center of Music Performing Arts Southwest (COMPAS)
February 12 7:30 p.m.
Gokh Bi System
African Hip Hop
Born and raised in the slums of Dakar, Senegal, these musicians are leaders and ambassadors of the emerging African hip hop movement. Gokh Bi System fuses traditional African rhythms with contemporary American beats in a style they call “Ancient Meets Urban.” More at http://www.myspace.com/gokhbi.
February 19 7:30 p.m.
XD Wei with Madame XD
Chinese Classical and Rock
Vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Xiao Dong Wei first exposes her classical roots in this concert, performing a set with Steinway Roster Artist Yuki Mack and Zhi Ping Wei on erhu, dizi and sheng. Xiao then rocks out with her new band, Madame XD, featuring bilingual lyrics and traditional Chinese sounds alongside guitar, banjo, cello and even accordion. More at http://www.myspace.com/xdwei.
February 26 7:30 p.m.
Jere Stormer’s Folk Out III
Michigan Acoustic Music
The tradition continues! This exciting folk music revue features Annie and Rod Capps’ country-flavored folk, the original blues of the award-winning singer/songwriter Paul Miles, Arab American folk singer Hana Malhas and and acoustic quintet Moonsqualler, among other musical surprises. Your host with the most is singer/songwriter Jere Stormer. In collaboration with WDET FM 101.9 Detroit Public Radio
March 5 7:30 p.m.
Jackie Tice
Native American-European Fusion
Kerrville New Folk Award winner Tice mingles her American Indian and European roots, combing through subjects from Shakespearian love to the call of coyotes. “Musically buoyant and lyrically brave – folk-rock with Native American spirituality…Tice’s songs capture instances of universal recognition and appeal,” declared Acoustic Guitar Magazine. More at http://www.jackietice.com. In collaboration with The North American Indian Association
March 12 7:30 p.m.
Laura Love
Afro Celtic
African American singer/songwriter/bassist Love is joined by country/blues guitar master Orville Johnson and vocalist Tory Trujillo (from Holland, MI) for an eclectic evening of original songs, traditional spirituals and music inspired by the civil rights movement. Love’s infectious, childlike spirit glues together her diverse musical influences. Read about the artist at http://www.lauralove.net. In collaboration with Between The Lines, www.pridesource.com
March 19 7:30 p.m.
Comedy Mid-East Style
Producer/director Mike Mosallam is your host for this laugh-out-loud evening featuring comics Negin Farsad of Iran (from the acclaimed documentary Nerdcore Rising); Maria Shehata of Egypt (an international touring favorite); and from Dearborn, Sarah Bazzi (Cribz: Arab-American Style and The Arab American Comedy Show). Comerica Charitable Foundation Night
March 26 7:30 p.m.
Suheir Hammad
Artist-Activist-Poet
A Palestinian American poet, author and political activist, Hammad has won numerous awards including NYU’s 2001 Emerging Artists Award and a 2003 Tony Award for Special Theatrical Event for her work as an original cast member and writer for Russell Simmons Presents Def Jam Poetry on Broadway. Read about Hammad’s work at http://www.suheirhammad.com. In collaboration with InsideOut Literary Arts Project,(www.insideoutdetroit.org, and Springfed Arts, www.springfed.org
April 2 7:30 p.m.
Simon Shaheen
Oud & Violin Virtuoso
Benefit Concert for the AANM
Special admission price THIS SHOW ONLY $20 (AANM Members $15)
Deftly leaping between traditional Arabic sounds, jazz, and Western classical styles, Shaheen’s soaring technique and melodic ingenuity have brought him international acclaim. He’s joined by percussionist Michel Merhej for this enchanting performance, Shaheen’s first in this area since last fall’s premiere of his oud concerto with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Learn more about this legendary performer at http://www.simonshaheen.com.
April 9 7:30 p.m.
Purbayan Chatterjee
Indian Classical
“Who says magicians need a wand to cast a spell…,” said the Hindustan Times of this sitar star who began studies at age five and took home his nation’s highest musical honor, the President of India Award, at age 14. Chatterjee is a disciple of maestro Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, a master of Maihar gharana, a prominent style of Indian classical music. Explore Chatterjee’s work at http://www.purbayan.com. In collaboration with Council of Organizations of Asian Indians in Michigan (COAIM)
NEW TICKET PRICES!
ALL ADVANCE TICKETS $8
AVAILABLE ONLINE ONLY WITH A DEBIT OR CREDIT CARD AT WWW.ARABAMERICANMUSEUM.ORG
MUSEUM MEMBERS ALWAYS $8
NON-MEMBERS AT THE DOOR $10
THREE-CONCERT PACKAGE OF YOUR CHOICE FOR JUST $20
FREE, AMPLE, LIGHTED PARKING BEHIND THE MUSEUM. ENTER MUNICIPAL LOT BY TURNING NORTH FROM MICHIGAN AVENUE ONTO NECKEL STREET.
GLOBAL THURSDAYS BROUGHT TO YOU BY Ford, Comerica Charitable Foundation, www.ArabDetroit.com, WDET-FM 101.9, DoubleTree Hotel Dearborn.