List of Persian/Iranian Events for 2011-10-23

You are invited to attend an event to honor the life of Dr. Mehrdad Mashayekhi, Professor of Sociology at Georgetown University, who passed away on October 5, 2011.

The program is primarily in Persian and will include statements by friends and colleagues in the US and abroad. Live music (instrumental and vocals) and refreshments will be provided.
Please allow extra time for parking and carpool if possible, so program can begin on time without interruptions.

Time: 3-6 pm
Sunday, October 23rd

Place: Gaston Hall (3rd floor of Healy Building)
Georgetown University

Car Entrance/Garage (Recommended): Canal Road Entrance (off Key Bridge), free parking at Southwest Garage (7-10 minute walk to Gaston Hall from there, so please allow extra time)

Walking Entrance: 37th and O Streets, NW, Washington D.C. 20057 (limited free street parking)

Tickets only available through bayareaflamencofestival.com

Latin-GRAMMY Winning Gypsy Singer
DIEGO EL CIGALA
Launches First US Tour in Berkeley

Sunday, Oct 23 7:00p
Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley, CA
Price: $30 - $75
Tickets: http://www.BayAreaFlamencoFestival.com
Phone: (800) 838-3006
(Tickets not available through Cal Performances)
Age Suitability: All Ages

"When I listen to him, it warms my heart." - Paco De Lucia
"...a conjurer of impulsiveness and abandon." - The New York Times

Cigala won his first Latin GRAMMY for Bebo & Cigala: "Lagrimas Negras," hailed by critic Ben Ratliff of The New York Times as Album of the Year and "one of the great new cross-pollinating documents of Latin music." Noted as a pioneer for his unique approach to Latin American music forms such as the bolero, tango and Afro-Caribbean jazz, Cigala has deep roots in the culture of Spanish Gypsy flamenco. As explained by Josh Kun in the New York Times, Cigala is able to "enter flamenco into conversations with other traditions without ever sacrificing its distinctive identity." In 2006 he won another Latin GRAMMY for a more flamenco-oriented CD "Picasso en Mis Ojos" which featured guests such as the legendary Paco de Lucia and Latin jazz master Jerry Gonzalez. Returning to the bolero, his 2008 project "Dos Lagrimas" united him with giants of Cuban percussion Tata Guines and Changuito and established his ongoing collaboration with the musicians who will be appearing with him at Zellerbach: guitarist Diego del Morao, pianist Jaime Calabuch Jumitus, percussionist Sabú Porrina and Cuban bassist Yelsy Heredia. Just nominated for yet another Latin Grammy, his latest album "Cigala & Tango" marries "Spanish flamenco with the equally gritty and powerful South American tango." (The Observer, UK). "It works effortlessly," says Felix Contreras of NPR who describes it this way: "it's a cross-genre type thing. It's as if John Legend made a blue grass album and killed."

This will be his first appearance in the Bay Area and is part of the 6th Annual Bay Area Flamenco Festival.