RUSSELL HARRIS

OUD, SAZ, REBAB, MIDDLE EASTERN PERCUSSION

Russell has been involved in the study and performance of Middle Eastern music since the mid 1980's  - After a initial period of study in Konya,Turkey specialising in Anatolian folk traditions with Ustat Ahmet Ozdemir, a renowned player of Oud and Saz ( long necked lute ) he broadened the scope of his study to include Arabic instrumental styles, specialising in Oud and Percussion. Russell has performed extensively throughout the UK  with groups Bazigah, Taaliqa and Panacea and with a range of international artists including Adel Salameh and Naziha Azzouz. 

MAREN LUEG

CHAS WHITAKER

TRADITIONAL MIDDLE EASTERN WIND INSTRUMENTS - NEY, TURKISH CLARINET, ZURNA AND SAXOPHONE, SILVER AND WOODEN FLUTES.

Maren was born and raised in Germany and is now resident in the UK. Inspired by the sounds she heard from the Turkish and East European communities. She began studying these styles as well as Jazz, Blues and Latin on the saxophone and flute. She performs regularly with British and Middle Eastern musicians around the UK and has studied such traditional Middle Eastern wind instruments as the Nay (bamboo flute) and Zurna (double reed pipe) in Turkey and Egypt. She has a Masters on the Nay at the London School of African and Oriental Studies.

CARMEN JONES

DARABUKA / DOUF / RIQ / ZILLS.

Chas has been playing Middle Eastern and North African percussion for over 20 years. Predominately self-taught he has travelled extensively across Egypt, Turkey and Morocco where he also studied.

MIDDLE EASTERN DANCE.

Carmen began her love affair with Arabic dance in the early 1990's. In that time she has acquired knowledge from many great teachers along the way from far and wide. She now shares her joy and experience of the dance with audiences and students nationwide; from the bright lights of a theatre to the grassy fields of a festival, Carmen takes much pleasure in celebrating the occasion with you through her dance.