Sadaa Ensemble is led by Brooklyn, NY oud player Brian Prunka, and features Maine natives Duncan Hardy (qanun), Eric LaPerna (percussion), Gideon Forbes (nay, clarinet), and Sarah Mueller (violin).

Called "an exceptional Arabic oud player – one of the best in NYC” by Sami Abu Shumays, co-author of Inside Arabic Music, Prunka’s original music is intricately rooted in the Arabic tradition, yet fresh, lyrical and intriguingly personal. In addition, the ensemble will feature improvisations (taqasim) and perform favorite selections from the traditional repertoire.

Brian Prunka, oud

Duncan Hardy, qanun

Sarah Mueller, violin

Gideon Forbes, nay & clarinet

Eric LaPerna, percussion

There will be a music workshop before the concert for musicians interested in developing their approach to improvisation: You may register here if you'd like to attend:

https://brianprunka.com/event/6108241/722294766/taqsim-improvisation-arabic-maqam-workshop

Oud player Brian Prunka’s music has been described as "spellbinding" and “mesmerizing, intricate, anthemic” (NY Music Daily). He began his musical journey playing jazz guitar in New Orleans before falling in love with the Arabic oud over 25 years ago, sparking a musical journey that led to Ramallah, Jerusalem and Istanbul. Since 2003 he has been deeply involved with New York’s Arabic music scene, performing with Simon Shaheen, Takht al-Nagham, Zikrayat, the NY Arabic orchestra, and the Bil Afrah Project, as well as his many original music projects, including his jazz-Arabic band Nashaz and most recently a series of works for oud and string quartet and a chamber jazz group with cello and percussion.

Saxophonist and qanunist Duncan Hardy connects his jazz roots with the intricate melodies of Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and India. Fifteen years ago, he embarked on a transformative exploration of these traditions, studying at the Arabic Music Retreat under oud and violin master Simon Shaheen, qanun expert Jamal Sinno, and the pioneering ethnomusicologist and UCLA professor, multi-instrumentalist Dr. Ali Jihad Racy. A vital presence in the New England music scene, he shares his artistry through performances with Dharma Down, the Maine Tahkt Ensemble, and the Maine Middle Eastern Orchestra and as an educator at Bates and Bowdoin Colleges.

Gideon Forbes is a saxophonist, nay player, and composer from Maine living in Brooklyn. He has rapidly become a sought-after collaborator, performing with the celebrated qanunist Firas Zreik, the New York Arabic Orchestra, Takht al-Nagham, The Brooklyn Nomads, Habibi Gün, and Sami Abu Shumays. He has shared the stage with many notable musicians including Abeer Nehme, Nibal Malshi, and Karim Nagi and is also the leader of Orchestra Farha, an acoustic-electric ensemble reviving 1970's Arabic music from Egypt and around the Arab world.

Multi-instrumentalist Eric LaPerna has spent over three decades mastering Middle Eastern hand drums and stringed instruments. His journey has led to collaborations with Maine’s finest, including the DaPonte String Quartet and the late Udi Alan Shavarsh Bardezbanian, as well as global luminaries like Ross Daly and Mal Barsamian. A leading figure in Maine’s music scene, Eric lends his rhythmic and melodic expertise to Okbari and the Maine Middle Eastern Ensemble, both of which he co-founded. He is a faculty member at Bates College and director of the Bowdoin College Middle Eastern Music Ensemble, the Maine Middle Eastern Orchestra, and the Portland Conservatory of Music Middle Eastern Ensemble.

Originally from Maine, Sarah Mueller is a violinist performing Arabic, folk, and new music. Known for her versatility across genre lines, she is a member of the National Arab Orchestra, New York Arabic Orchestra, The Brooklyn Nomads, Forêt Endormie, and Sicilian folk group Gruppo Antudo. In New York, she is a regular in the Arabic music scene, collaborating with numerous chamber ensembles, vocalists, and composers. She also enjoys contributing to film scores and soundtracks, most recently appearing on Assassin’s Creed: Mirage.

Doors 7 PM

Tickets: $15-25 sliding scale, click button below to purchase: