Alwan for the Arts and Joe's Pub present

Gaida and her Ensemble: Levantine Indulgence

Joe's Pub | 425 Lafayette Street | New York, NY 10003

Tickets: $20

Order tickets online at www.joespub.com or by calling 212-967-7555

Gaida is a vocalist and composer working at the intersection of the New York Arab and improvised music scenes. Her songs draw at once on classical Arabic music, Syrian folk traditions, and free improvisations that expand on traditional Arabic maqams (modes) to produce an original and highly personal style marked by great emotional intensity. An acclaimed singer from an early age, Gaida was born in Germany and raised in Damascus. Later she lived in Kuwait, Paris, and Detroit, where she received classical voice training at Wayne State University. Now settled in New York, Gaida works with leading music artists such as Amir ElSaffar, Brahim Fribgane, Arturo Martinez, Zafer Tawil, and Rufus Cappadocia. She appeared on Jonathan Demme's latest film,Rachel Getting Married, which featured one of her compositions and a performance with Robyn Hitchcock. She has subsequently performed with Hitchcock on several occasions in New York. She also recorded with Gillian Welsh and Alejandro Escovedo on Demme's previous film, Jimmy Carter: Man from Plains. Gaida composed and performed an original song for the documentary film, The First Saturday in May. Her debut CD, Levantine Indulgence is scheduled for release in the spring of 2009. Gaida also maintains a parallel career as a speech pathologist.

Last updated: 2009-02-12 21:33:59