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London: Jazz Bridges Afghanistan
Union Chapel was the scene for the first live performance of Jazz Bridges Afghanistan outside Kabul. On February 4 an incredibly diverse audience gathered to hear Ghulam Hussain's traditional ensemble team up with American Voices' CoCo York, Mike Del Ferro and Mark and Mike Mondesir. The London program included a photography exhibit as well as a sampling of Afghan food and fashion.
Of the London concert, The Evening Standard remarked "highlights included black American singer CoCo York singing Leili Jan, a classic song by Ahmad Zahir, the Afghan Elvis, of which the composer (killed in 1979) would surely have approved."
Since the fall of the Taliban, arts and culture in Afghanistan have undergone a major revival. The Ghulam Hussain Ensemble returned to Kabul from exile in Pakistan in early 2002, where they have been able to reclaim their mantle as the foremost exponents of Afghan classical and traditional music in the country. The Ensemble was chosen to collaborate in 'Jazz Bridges Afghanistan', an innovative project combining traditional Afghan musicians with American and British jazz musicians, by Kabul’s Foundation for Culture and Civil Society. This unique cross-cultural collaboration was the brainchild of American Voices' John Ferguson who describes the project as "a groundbreaking moment in the recent history of Afghan music."
Both concerts were covered by major media such as the BBC Pashto and Dari service, Venus TV, Al Jazeera TV and LBC Radio.
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