BOULDER WEEKLY

Quieting the desert storm The search for Israel-Arab peace through music by Gene Ira Katz. Much has been written throughout history about the psychological power of music. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow called music "the universal language of mankind." Bono claims, "Music can change the world because it can change people." Perhaps music can also help promote peace. That's the intention of Light from the Desert, an upcoming concert series created by a local musician/producer and a professor of Israeli studies. Dr. Shaul Gabbay heads up the Institute for the Study of Israel in the Middle East (ISIME) with offices at both Denver University and the University of Colorado. In many ways, notes Gabbay, people have lost hope in the possibility of peace between Israelis and Palestinians. "At ISIME, we are optimistic because we believe we can make a difference in creating a lasting and sustainable peace for people throughout the region."

Gabbay has written numerous articles and reports on this issue, in addition to a recent book, The Search for Israel-Arab Peace, along with Joseph Ginat and Edwin G. Corr. ISIME fosters collaborative projects among people of all nationalities and faiths, such as a colloquy planned for spring 2010 that will bring together chancellors and presidents from dozens of universities across the planet to explore conflicts and develop a global peace-studies program. ISIME has also been known to bring together creative artists from different cultures — that's where Boulder-based musician Sheldon Sands enters the story. After receiving a BA in music from Naropa, with an emphasis in jazz and world music, and then going on to study the relationship between music and healing, Sands was awarded a seven-month artistic residency in Arad, Israel. During his time there, studying Middle Eastern music, roaming the desert, and tapping into the spirit of the land and its diverse peoples, Sands produced a series of recording sessions in Tel Aviv with some of Israel's top Jewish and Arabic musicians. The CD, Dead Sea Strolls, was released in March 2002.

Sands was approached by Gabbay to produce Light from the Desert, noting that, "He really wants to create events to have the public become more involved in the process of helping to find solutions. I've been producing concerts somewhat in this vein since 1999, at the Boulder Theater and other venues around town. "This is a stellar cast of musicians, very famous in that world," Sands says of the three performers slated for the concert, Yair Dalal, Naser Musa and Ty Burhoe. "For people who know Middle Eastern music and Jewish music, these are pretty important figures."Composer, violinist, oud player and singer Yair Dalal is probably the most prolific Israeli ethnic musician. Dalal's family came to Israel from Baghdad and his Iraqi roots are embedded in his musical work. Through a dozen or so albums (solo and with his ensemble, Alol), Dalal has developed his own unique style, combining the traditions of Iraqi and Jewish Arabic music with sounds from such diverse regions as the Balkans and India.

Dalal is also a peace activist, devoting much of his time and energy to helping remove barriers between different cultures and, in particular, between Jews and Arabs. Naser Musa, a Jordanian of Palestinian descent, is a talented singer, composer, oud virtuoso and versatile studio musician. His music has been featured in films such as The Passion of the Christ and You Don't Mess with the Zohan and on Beyonce's recent single, "Beautiful Liar." Naser is also a peace activist, performing and promoting concerts and presentations with artists from all over the world. He is quoted as saying, "Music is the sole border that we may all cross together with the passport of love in our hearts and peace in our souls."

Ty Burhoe, who resides here in Boulder, is a celebrated disciple of the great tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, and has attracted international acclaim, weaving tabla with the traditions of jazz, flamenco, rock, bluegrass and fusion, among others. He can be heard on dozens of recordings the world over, with artists such as Tony Furtado, Bela Fleck, Walter Becker, Kitaro, Jon Anderson and Bill Douglas.

"[A lot of people] haven't had the exposure to music coming from the Arab countries or the traditional music of the Middle East," said Sands. "But this is accessible and infectious and compelling. I think that if people come and get turned on to something this exciting, then they're going to want to hear much more of it."

Gabbay's optimism is infectious as well. "Some people think that the Israelis and the Arabs can never come together. Well, what can be more beautiful or powerful than people from two sides of the conflict creating this magnificent art together? They're doing it."

On the Bill Light from the Desert concerts take place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, at Old Main Chapel, CU campus, Boulder, 303-394-9993 ext. 104 and at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Newman Center, University of Denver, 2344 E. Iliff Ave., 303 830 8497.

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