CedarWorld December 2013 | Page 21

Jamey with the Assad Brothers, Clarice Assad and Christiane Karam – the “Back to Our Roots” ensemble a program entitled, “Da Volta as Raizes” (Back to originality and orchestration on my part. Midway Our Roots). I had worked with all of them before through the tour, percussionist Keita Ogawa joined along with Badi Assad, the younger sister of the us and added a percussive flavor that brought it to a brothers. Like me they are 100% Lebanese and have a new level. The Assad family to a person has similar affinity for their Arabic musical roots. This extremely high musical standards and I am grateful particular project focused on the many major for any chance to share music with them. That Brazilian composers who are of Arabic ancestry and meeting sparked a musical relationship between Lebanese in particular. Along with the music of Clarice and Keita, and they have recently record some Egberto Gismonti and Joao Bosco to name a few, of her compositions. the Assad family penned a handful of beautiful music as well. The band sounded elegant and was very You have performed on a number of occasions in explicit on one hand, but there was plenty of room for Lebanon. What were some of the most memorable aspects of these occasions for you?