Anne Niepold et Andy Cutting

Les Arrivants

The Arrivals, consisting of Amichai Ben Shalev, Abdul-Wahab Kayyali, and Hamin Honari, settled in Montreal during the COVID-19 pandemic between the summers of 2019 and 2020. Through this unique period, they met and explored their new hometown amidst lockdowns and uncertainties. Their repertoire reflects their resettlement experience, drawing inspiration from the traditions they mastered throughout their careers, including Argentine tango, classical Arabic music, and traditional Persian rhythms. Their music captures the highs and lows of resettlement, expressing nostalgia, the search for new comforts, and the complex emotions associated with migration.

Amichai Ben Shalev (Bandoneon): With a degree from the “Manuel de Falla” Conservatory of Buenos Aires, Amichai has performed worldwide as a soloist, from classical to heavy metal compositions, and notably premiered works by Rodolfo Daluisio. He's also known for Bandoneon TV, dedicated to bandoneon studies.

Abdul-Wahab Kayyali (Oud): Abdul-Wahab studied at the National Music Conservatory of Amman, Jordan, under Sakher Hattar and Iraqi oud virtuoso Munir Bashir. He's performed internationally and released his debut solo album "Juthoor" in 2020, establishing projects like Juthoor and Etihad Middle Eastern Music Salon.

Hamin Honari (Persian hand drums), a Persian percussionist and composer born in Zahedan, Iran in 1983, comes from a family of musicians. He began his musical journey studying the tombak under Ramin Bahrami, eventually delving into various rhythms and styles. Embracing Vancouver's music scene, he collaborated with diverse ensembles and musicians, infusing traditional Persian techniques with jazz and classical influences.

Patrick Nolet, Christian Nolet et Timi Turmel

Alessandro Gaudio et Salvatore Pace

Salvatore Pace and Alessandro Gaudio are two young musicians of the diatonic accordion (organetto) from southern Italy, a land of traditional music and dances that serve as an inspiring source for this new duo project. The project presented by the duo takes the name of “PASSIONE MERIDIONALE” (southern passion) precisely because of the 100% original music composed by the two young people with the artistic supervision of Maestro Riccardo Tesi (Image of international importance of the diatonic accordion), who coordinated all the arrangements of the musical compositions of the project. Music inspired by the popular traditions of Basilicata, Campania and Calabria, but also Argentine Tango and articulated odd rhythms, giving vent to the widest imaginations and musical colours. The "organetto", in fact, is the instrument that most prepares for music of this type being a popular extraction instrument but, which in recent years, produces young music with contaminations that create unique sounds of its kind. The compositions of the two young artists are part of research among popular traditional music and other contaminations of the various musical genres. All united by the masterful elaboration of the musical dialogue between the voices of the diatonic accordions that intersect creating melodic and rhythmic harmonies and counterpoints.

Raimondas Sviackevicius & Georgina Bognar