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Rahim Alhaj
Grammy®-nominee, virtuoso oud player and composer Rahim AlHaj, born in Baghdad, Iraq, has found in his ancient instrument (whose written history spans some 5,000 years) a unique voice that speaks passionately to contemporary listeners of every musical background. Deftly combining traditional Iraqi maqamat with contemporary stylings and influences, Rahim seeks to translate into music the suffering, joy, anxiety, and determination that he has experienced and witnessed in his lifelong struggle against injustice—as an Iraqi, a political refugee, and today as an American citizen. Communicating with a compelling immediacy that bypasses cultural obstacles, his music speaks irresistibly to the heart in a universal language of compassion.
Rahim has released several recordings that have earned high praise, including a Grammy® nomination. His compositions embrace a broad spectrum of musical genres, routinely and seamlessly marrying Eastern and Western traditions. In addition to solo recordings and performances, he works with a variety of musical companions, from jazz artists (Bill Frissell) and classical Indian maestros like (Amjad Ali Khan) to string quartets (Kronos Quartet). Rahim has performed around the world at universities and at such prestigious venues as The Kennedy Center, Smithsonian Institute, Symphony Space, New York, The Getty Center, Los Angeles & The Palce of Fine Arts, San Francisco
http://www.myspace.com/rahimalhaj
Tamara Saviano
During the past two decades Tamara Saviano has established herself as a tireless promoter of American music and its artists. Saviano is a GRAMMY®-winning producer, publicist, project manager, live concert producer, talent booker, and former music television producer and music journalist. She has produced the annual Americana Honors & Awards at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium since 2005. The Honors & Awards have hosted appearances by artists as varied as Johnny Cash, Elvis Costello, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Arlo Guthrie, Rodney Crowell, Kris Kristofferson, John Prine, Mavis Staples, Solomon Burke, Allen Toussaint, Guy Clark, and many others.
Now Tamara adds to her many hats that of author. Her first book, a memoir, is tentatively entitled The Most Beautiful Girl and should be released later this year. Tamara has also been tapped to write the official biography of the great American songwriting icon Guy Clark.
Tamara continually explores the national, regional and local arts scene to encourage unique collaborations between exceptional artists in all genres of music and literature. She shares homes in Nashville, TN and Milwaukee, WI with her partner Paul and four neurotic cats: Gabe, Bear, Annie and Blade.
Tamara is available for speaking engagements & book signings and of course the many services offered by her company Ellis Creative
Axton Kincaid
Axton Kincaid burst on to the San Francisco and national scenes in 2007 with a debut CD that showed a polish beyond their time together. Anchored by the strong songwriting of lead singer/ guitarist Kate Howser, Songs from the Pine Room received national critical acclaim from the likes of NPR, American Songwriter, All Music Guide, West Coast Performer, The SF Bay Guardian and SF Weekly while getting spins across the nation on Triple A and Americana radio. Along the way they have shared stages with BR-549, Camper Van Beethoven, The Mother Truckers, Eileen Jewell and Red Meat.
Silver Dollars, out October 2008 on Free Dirt Records, updates the traditional bent of the band's debut with songs inspired by early '70s country-rock ("The Saddest Story"), Dolly-and-Porter
style duets ("Spend Some Time With Me") and the classic Nashville sound--albeit with an underlying layer of noisy, distorted guitar ("Walking Papers"). In short, Axton Kincaid is a modern country band passed though the filters of Tom Waits, Neko Case, Calexico and even The Stone Roses (whose song, "I Want To Be Adored" they covered to great effect on their first record), while retaining the genre's tradition of three- and four-part harmonies to tell their stories of misspent youth, D-I-V-O-R-C-E and the pleasures and pitfalls of drowning your sorrows.
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