The Ziryab Project will be exploring a new view of the Arab musical heritage of Al-Andalus with us. How can five performers from the Mediterranean reinterpret the musical legacy of Ziryab, a musician who reach ninth-century Cordoba from Iraq, from our perspective in the twenty-first century? From medieval Spain to contemporary interpretation, this educational and artistic project shows us a whole new approach to his musical legacy. 

The concert being given at Casa Árabe complements a series of residencies and training and research activities held at both the Valencia campus of the Berklee College of Music and Aix-en-Provence. 

Tickets available as of Tuesday, May 3.

Tickets are on sale for 5 euros at www.casaarabe.es. Those tickets which have not been sold online will be put on sale one hour before the concert at the Casa Árabe Auditorium door for the price of 6 euros (5 euros for the officially unemployed, Casa Árabe Language Center students and Youth Card holders. You must demonstrate your status by showing the proper document to receive the discount.) Assigned seats with tickets.

PURCHASE TICKETS

Colin Heller (Briançon, France, 1994). Heller began to play the violin at the age of five, then having learned the organ and Baroque violin. He began his studies in music at the Aix-en-Provence music school, though he taught himself to play the mandolin, the Swedish nyckelharpa and the hardingfele (a traditional Norwegian violin), as well. He has been a member of the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra and the Violons du Rigodon ensemble. He has collaborated with artists of wide-ranging styles, including traditional musicians like Patrick Vaillant and Daniel Muringer, jazz musician Fabrizio Cassol, Jasser Haj Youssef, the rock band Deluxe, and director Didier Rousselet. In 2016-2017, he will be taking part in the tour of the production “The Prophet,” with music by Palestine’s Moneim Adwan, inspired by a text written by the famous poet Khalil Gibran, with the participation of French singer Françoise Atlan and Moneim Adwan himself on the Arabic oud. 

Abir El Abed (Tangiers, Morocco, 1992). El Abed began his studies in music at the conservatory at the age of nine, forming part of its orchestra, as well as the choral group Al-Boughaz, led by Hind Boulkhir. In his career, he has been supported by the master Metioui. He has taken part in various projects specializing in music from Al-Andalus, such as the Rawâfid ensemble.  He led the women’s musical ensemble Arige from 2011 to 2014, which performed on stages in Switzerland, Algeria and Belgium. He has also performed solo in France, Gibraltar, Spain and Azerbaijan. He has performed at internationally renowned festivals, such as the Sacred Music Festival of Fez, the Atlantic Andalusi Festival in Essaouira, the Mugham Festival of Paris and the Festival of Aix-en-Provence.

Yoav Eshed (Israel) is a guitarist and composer with a jazz and modern music repertoire. He began to study piano at the early age of three years and gave his first recital when he was just seven, interpreting works by Mozart, Bach and Hayden. At the age of 13, he moved on to the guitar, the instrument with which he has carried out his career, accompanying the best jazz musicians from his country. He has received scholarships from various institutions of prestige. Amongst the many he has been given, the following are most notable:  the Prestigious Dean Award of the Berklee College of Music, an award from the Israeli government for best creation, for his adaptation of a well-known children’s music album to jazz (2011), first prize in the annual jazz competition at the Rimon School of Music (2013), and third prize at the Montreux Jazz Festival (2014).

Sergio Martínez (Madrid) studied flamenco, Afro-Latin and classical percussion with masters such as Rubén Dantas (a percussionist for Paco de Lucía) and Luisito Dulzaides. He formed part of the Musicians’ Workshop, becoming a member of its Latin Jazz Big Band. Though he has received intensive training in flamenco, he has also spent his career working with other styles, such as jazz, becoming a highly versatile musician. Sergio has recorded and performed with artists of the stature of Enrique Morente, Jose Merce, Diego el Cigala, Jorge Pardo and Jorge Drexler. At present, his main activity as a performer is with the Sergio Martínez Mediterranean Quintet, along with Javier Colina, Albert Sanz and Javier Vercher. His relationship with the Berklee College of Music began in 2010 when he received a scholarship which allowed him to form part of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, whose artistic director was jazz pianist Danilo Perez. Along with him, other great musicians have been mentors to Sergio Martínez throughout these years. At present, his relationship with the educational programs at the Valencia campus of the Berklee College of Music continues. 

Sergio de Lope (Priego de Córdoba, Spain, 1985) is a  flute player and flamenco saxophone player with a degree in teaching music and flamenco studies. He has worked with various flamenco guitarists, including Juan Requena, Javier Conde, Eduardo Trassierra, David Caro, José Tomás Jiménez and Alberto López. He has also worked with flamenco singers like Antonio Campos, Juanito Villar Jr., Juan Pinilla, Eva de Dios and Inma “La Carbonera,” and with musicians from other disciplines such as pianists Pedro Ricardo Miño, Toni Romero, Alfonso Aroca and flamenco trumpet players David Pastor and Enriquito. He is the author of the first flamenco method for the flute ever created in the world and has performed at international festivals and events such as the “Flamenco White Night,” with the show “Patio de Lucía” and the Granada FEX International Music and Dance Festival. Sergio de Lope was also one of the performers who made up the pilot project for the Flamenco-Arab Music School created by Casa Árabe in Cordoba in 2014.