Amir ElSaffar and Rivers of Sound at Merkin Hall

Amir ElSaffar and Rivers of Sound at Merkin Hall
April 28, 7:30pm, tickets $25

The Iraqi-American composer Amir ElSaffar plays a couple of very different instruments: the Western trumpet, and the near Eastern santur, a type of hammered dulcimer.  His band, Rivers of Sound, also features instruments from East and West, and at 17 players strong, the group combines elements of big band jazz with classical Arab music.  Tomorrow night, ElSaffar, his band, and a special guest, Hamid Al-Saadi, one of the last singers keeping alive the Baghdad tradition, join me onstage at Merkin Concert Hall for a New Sounds Live event.