Saturday, November 1st

Amir AlSaffar and the Safaafir
7:00 pm
Diamond Palace
4100 Peralta Blvd, Freemont Ca. 94536

Purchase Tickets on line: http://iraqimaqamconcert.eventbrite.com

For more information and tickets contact:
Vic Zikoor 408.239.9681 | Emad Yahya 408.515.8566
Voltaire Warda 650.868.7627 | Dina 408.979.1875
Nada 408.826.8199

Organized by:
Bay Area Iraqi Americans
Bay Area Assyrian Americans
Bay Area Arab Americans
Project Art Bridge
Bay Area Americans
Ruth Group
AACCSV

Amir ElSaffar, an Iraqi-American, put down the trumpet to learn the centuries-old singing style known as maqam. He has now released his own CD of maqam and is writing music that blends the form with jazz. A true Music Bridge between Iraq and the US ElSaffar traveled to Baghdad and London to study what some call the classical music of Iraq from the masters. Before that, Iraqi music was not a big part of his life. He grew up in the suburbs of Chicago , and jazz was his first love. After studying classical and jazz trumpet in college, he moved to New York City and worked as a sideman for pianist Cecil Taylor and others. He also led a band of his own. He is the lead in the Safaafir – Iraqi Maqam group and will come to San Jose with the group from Chicago. The proceeds will be for the Iraqi Injured Children, an Iraqi community member has already pledged to pay the group fees and the travel cost.

Download the Flyer



24 minutes Video Clips of Interview with Amir AlSaafar about Maqam

4 minutes Video Bashar at his Keyboard

Past Events:

April 18th

- A show and sale of Art by members of the Project Art Bridge,
sponsored by the Arab American Cultural Center of the Silicon Valley.

13650 Saratoga Avenue • Saratoga, California
Date:     April 18, 2008
Time :     7pm - 9:30pm
More:     This event is free for all to attend.
For more information visit aaccsv.org or call (408) 279-2722
download a flyer for this event

Participating artists:

Safa Aljuburi (artwork present, Safa out of country)
Ban Kubba (artwork present, Ban out of country)
Afaneen Kubba (artwork present, Afanee out of country)
Rosemary Wall (artwork present, Rose out of country)
Zina Fattah (painted glass)
Judith Sandoval (photography)
Vic Zikoor (photography)
Sarah McNitt (mixed media)
Sidnea D'Amico (painting)
Erika Lam (cloth designs)
Nancy Rodger (painting)
Christine Nicklos (ink drawing)
Leo Foster (drawing)
Amal Mudalall (paint on cloth)
Dalia Mohanad (Ceramics)
Margo Majewska (multi media)
Gloria Upchurch (photography)

Event Pictures