Elias Lammam Trio: Celebrating the Fourth Annual Santa Cruz Arabic Music Week

World-renowned Arabic accordionist and singer Elias Lammam of Lebanon and his Trio play popular Arabic music of the mid-20th century, including songs of Oum Kholthum, Fairuz, Abdel Halim Hafez, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, the Rahbani brothers, as well as folk music of the region and original compositions and improvisations. Some of this repertoire is popular as dance music as well. For this concert, the Trio will include percussionist Reda Darwish, qanunist Sarah Michael, jazz bassist Cary Nichols of Santa Cruz, and special guests. This concert is the opening gala event to begin the Fourth Annual Santa Cruz Arabic Music Week, which Elias Lammam has organized and directed since 2014 to offer participatory community concerts of Arabic music, and a week-long Arabic music immersion program for musicians, singers and percussionists.