North African Musical Traditions, NYC, 8 Feb
Diversity and Unity:
North African Musical Traditions
BySamuel Thomas
Wednesday, February 8, 2006, 6:30 –8:30 p.m.
Segal Theater
Co-Sponsored by the Center for Jewish Studies
and the Ph.D. Program in Ethnomusicology
$10 donation at the Door
Seating limited, first come first served
City University of New York
365 Fifth Avenue
Tel: 212-817-7570
Fax: 212-817-1542
web.gc.cuny.edu/memeac
Exploring the multi-cultural tapestry of the Maghreb through music, Samuel Thomas will present a glimpse into the diverse world of Maghrebi music through presentation and performance. Looking at questions of ethnic identification and transnationalism amongst Moroccan Jewish and Muslim communities, he will place the music in context of past, present, and future. The performance will include soprano sax, oud, vocals, and percussion. He will be joined by fellow musicians Yoel Ben-Simhon and Dudu Bohbot.
Samuel Thomas, an artist and educator, is a saxophonist, percussionist and composer. Receiving two degrees from Berklee College of Music, Thomas is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Ethnomusicology at CUNY. His work includes North African musical traditions, Arab music, and Jewish music research. As bandleader of Asefa, an ensemble founded in 2001, Thomas traverses a wide musical landscape with arrangements and original compositions imbued with contemporary concepts in improvisation and instrumentation.