Berakah at
St.Paul's,
Covent Garden,London's
Glittering West End ,Nov 27th
2007
Guitarist and
Composer Mohammed Nazam founded the new
World/Jazz/
Classical en-semble BERAKAH in summer
2005. Bringing together musicians of
Jewish, Christian and Muslim heritage, Berakah is the first UK band of its kind.
Featuring virtuoso musicians such as Nazam, classical violinist
Serena Leader, Algerian percussion master
Abdelkader Saadoun, the soulful vocals of
Chantelle Duncan and
TV/film composer
Mark Hinton Stewart, Berakah brings audiences together through music, challenging cultural stereo-types, raising awareness, encouraging acceptance and building bridges.
Having success-fully toured the UK in 2007 the band are now looking to reach music audiences across the globe.
The word "Berakah", meaning grace, blessings or forgiveness, is found in both
Hebrew and
Arabic and sums up the intent of the music perfectly. Each performance showcases dazzling interplay and deeply moving compositions with
Jazz, Classical and
Middle East-ern elements combining to create a memorable live experience.
Since their debut at the
Respect Festival in 2005, Berakah have performed in such pres-tigious venues as
The British Library,
The British Museum, and a sold out show at St.Paul's in
Covent Garden. In 2007 they undertook a year-long tour of the UK (sponsored by the
Arts Council) finishing with a sold out performance in
Central London.
The Times, in a feature on Berakah, said:
"It is music to make you close your eyes and dance in your head — an arresting confec-tion of jazzy improvisation, catchy
Middle Eastern chords and the beat of the darabuka drum."
The band was formed by
Mohammed (Mo) Nazam, (who has played with The Jazz Warri-ors,
Steve Williamson and
Keith Waithe amongst others) with the aim of encouraging non-violence, peaceful co-existence, dialogue between people of differing faiths, raise aware-ness of common roots of the three main monotheistic faiths and the celebration of diver-sity. Berakah seeks to draw audiences from a variety of faiths so that
Jews, Muslims and Christians (and people of other faiths, of course!) can sit with each other and enjoy cultural events together.
Mo Nazam, founding member
of Berakah said: 'Berakah can be enjoyed, and is relevant to, people of faith, people of little faith and those of no faith whatsoever!
We are asking all people, whoever they are and whatever their beliefs, to support our message of good mu-sic and non-violence
Clips from their debut
album "
Music for the
Heart" can be hear on their web-site at
http://www.theberakahproject.org
Combining both powerful music and a meaningful philosophy Berakah are helping to make music a powerful force in society once again. Berakah truly make "Music for the Heart".
For more information please go to:
http://www.theberakahproject.org
- published: 09 Apr 2008
- views: 1053