Berklee Middle Eastern Festival with Husnu Senlendirici and the New York Gypsy All-Stars February 8, 2010

Berklee’s Second Annual Middle Eastern Festival features world-renowned Turkish clarinet virtuoso Hüsnü Senlendirici, the New York Gypsy All-Stars, and the Berklee Middle Eastern Fusion Ensemble directed by Christiane Karam. The concert showcases a variety of Middle Eastern styles, including Lebanese folk, Arabic classical music, and Turkish Gypsy fusion – a style based on traditional Turkish music, mixed with contemporary jazz and western grooves and harmonies.

The Berklee Middle Eastern Fusion Ensemble opens with a set that includes music by Senlendirici and his group Laco Tayfa, Philemon Wehbe, the Rahbani Brothers, and Jamil Mesut. Senlendirici will join the students onstage for the closing numbers. The second set, featuring Hüsnü Senlendirici and the New York Gypsy All-Stars, culminates with the guest artists and student ensemble performing together.

Leading up to the concert, Senlendirici and the New York Gypsy All-Stars will work with Berklee students as part of an artist residency that includes a master class and clinic. The clinic, which is free and open to the public, takes place Monday, February 8, 1:15-3:00 p.m. at Berk Recital Hall, 1140 Boylston St, Boston, MA.