Al-Arwah
Middle Eastern
Music
2704 SE Tibbetts
St. Portland OR 97202
phone: 503.502.8227
email: al-arwah@al-arwah.com
Al-Arwah was formed in September of 2005 and is based in Portland,
Oregon. We are devoted to the music of the Middle East, Turkey, Persia
(Iran), North Africa and Armenia.
Who's in Al Arwah? Jennifer
Olson, Jerry Fugate, Geoff George, Marlene Trigg, Brian Olson and Ruben Ramirez.
What instruments do we play?
Jennifer is a talented multi-instrumentalist who plays hammered dulcimer,
harp and oud. Jerry plays percussion and baglama saz. Geoff plays keyboards
and guitar and Marlene plays the violin. Brian and Ruben play percussion.
Where have we played before?
Recent venues include It's a Beautiful Pizza (where we got our start),
Baraka Moroccan Restaurant, Mississippi Pizza Pub (where are currently
performing monthly) and Pars Restaurant. We also performed at Portland
Community College's ArtBeat in May of 2007 and the 2007 Northwest Folklife
Festival in Seattle.
What about the music? Music,
as with every art form, builds connections. The music of the Middle East
offers a window into a number of fascinating and beautiful cultures. It
reflects the lives and passions of people in a part of the world that we,
now more than ever, need to understand. Much of the music we play is also
intricately linked to a dance form that is unsurpassed in its beauty and
grace. Belly dance (a.k.a. Raks Sharqi, Danse Orientale, et. al.) is an
art form that was born in the Middle East and has been transformed through
its contact with the west. Nearly all of our performances include dancing.
We feel that inspiring people to dance is one of the highest goals that
a musician can attain.
Who
Are These People?
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Jennifer Olson first started
playing music with piano lessons at the age of 7. She has played for both
contra dancers in The Contradictions, playing Celtic and old-time music,
and belly dancers in the middle eastern band Al-Arwah and the Portland
Community Middle Eastern orchestra. She plays hammered dulcimer, Appalachian
dulcimer, harp, mandola, and oud, and lives with her daughter Allyson and
husband, Brian in the Felida Home for Wayward Instruments in Vancouver,
Washington. |
 |
Jerry
Fugate began studying percussion with Michael Beach in 2003 after
hearing the Brothers of the Baladi at one of his wife's belly dance performances.
"The music grabbed me by the heart and hasn't let go." He has also studied
with David Reihs and taken workshops with Souhail Kaspar Faisal Zedan and Omar Faruk Tekbilek. Founder of Al-Arwah, he also performs with Crescent and Shamrock (a fusion of Celtic and Middle Eastern music). He occasionally fills in with Arabesque and has performed as a guest with the Brothers of the Baladi and Souhail Kaspar. In 2005 Jerry bought a baglama
saz on eBay for $93.50. He's been in love with it ever since. |
 |
Geoff
George plays Arabic keyboard and guitar. Originally from Brigham
City, Utah, Geoff's first instrument was the banjo at age 8. He studied
music at Utah State University. His credits include extensive touring and
recording with Little Women from 1982-91, an international USO tour with
Native Sons in 1995 and stints with I & I, Cindy Pearson, I-Say, Shamballah
and many other regional acts. He has shared the stage with Joe Cocker,
The Allman Brothers, David Lindley, Burning Spear, Jeff Healey, King Sunny
Ade, U-B 40, Third World and Wide Spread Panic. Geoff is a regular member
of the Brothers of the Baladi and Arabesque. |
 |
Ruben Ramirez
was born and raised in the White Mountains of Northeastern Arizona, Ruben moved
to Vancouver, Washington in June of 2006 with his wife, son, and daughter. He’s
been drumming since 2003, motivated by his wife, who is a belly dancer (Shalah).
He began performing with a friend, Chris Tippie, at local events in Arizona and
even appeared in a commercial on the local cable channel.
Ruben has taken workshops
and classes from drummers such as Gabby Tawil, Edric Aziz (Domba), and Raquy (Raquy
and the Cavemen). He is currently a student of former Al-Arwah member Doug
Shafer (Mizna, Negara and Krebsic Orkestar).
Nerves? Yeah, he’s had his trouble with
them “In fact, the first time I performed I was not able to face the audience
and drummed with my back toward them. Edric Aziz approached me afterward and
told me I did a great job, but it would be even better if I faced the audience.
I've come a long way since then…”
Ruben met Jerry on line before moving to
the Pacific NW when he inquired about the belly dance and middle Eastern music
community here, little did he know at the time that he would eventually be
performing with him!
“I truly enjoy the art of
Middle Eastern music and belly dance. I love to watch my wife perform. She is
the inspiration for my drumming. Drum and dance like no one is watching. Peace”.
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Marlene
Trigg is a Portland native
and began learning violin in the fourth grade. She graduated magna cum
laude from the University of Portland in 1999 with a bachelors in Music
Education. Marlene was the Orchestra Director for the Astoria School District
from 1999 until returning to the Portland area. Following a year of teaching
privately she was hired as an orchestra teacher for the David Douglas School
District.
Marlene first became interested in bellydance when she was 12 years
old after taking a workshop with Fariba. Though focused on other dance
forms at the time, she never forgot the exotic music and graceful movements
of bellydance and continued to study with Fariba until the demands of college
intervened. Upon her return to Portland in 2002 Marlene began to seriously
study bellydance with instructors Elana and Tiffany. Her belly dance experiences,
including an inspiring live performance of local band Arabesque, sparked
her interest learning how to play middle eastern music. She met Al-Arwah
member Jerry Fugate when he performed as a guest tabla player with her
middle school orchestra who invited her to join the band.
Marlene is currently on leave from her position as Concertmistress of
the Mt. Hood Pops Orchestra, under the direction of Ben Brooks, while she
pursues her Master's degree in Music Education with Boston University.
In addition to her passions for belly dance and music, Marlene also enjoys
gardening and relaxing with her two cats, Spooky and Clooney. |
Former members of Al-Arwah include Doug Shafer, Chris Jacobson and
Sean Molloy of Mizna and Negara and Dennis Godfrey of Kaffana Klub and
Meydan.
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