Fred Elias with Buddy Sarkissian & his Mecca Four – Soul of the East: New England Near Eastern Dance Instrumentals ca. 1960

The story of Syro-Lebanese violinist Fred Elias reads almost like a movie script, and we have Ian Nagoski from Canary Records to thank for bringing his story to light. The music itself is energetic and percussion-heavy, with Elias skillfully playing his violin to a lively 9/8 rhythm. It’s the kind Continue Reading

Various Artists: Habibi Funk 015: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World, Part 2

Our friends at Habibi Funk are becoming legendary as their roster grows.  What impresses me the most about the folks who run the label is their absolute passion for music from the Maghreb which has been criminally underrepresented throughout the world for decades.  It’s shameful that the labels in the Continue Reading