Arabology 13.1 Podcast (May 2019) Available

Listen at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/a131

Stanford Lecturer/Arabology Radio Host Dr. Ramzi Salti was joined by DJ Salah in presenting new indie/alternative Arabic music for the premiere of the 13th Season of Arabology--which airs on KZSU 90.1 FM (Stanford University).  The show aired on May 2. 2019 and the podcast is now available below or at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/a131

The show featured indie/alternative Arabic music (with commentary in English) and included a segment about Sudanese music and a tribute to singer Rim Banna who passed away last year.

FEATURED ARTISTS ON ARABOLOGY 13.1 (MAY 2, 2019):

This episode showcases songs by Lebanese group Nachaz, Hana Malhas, Nur Alf, Yusor Hamed, Jowan Safadi, DAM, Basel Zayed, The Synaptik, Rootes, Al Raseef. Also features Fairuz remixes by Weela, DJ Sotusura and a tribute to Rim Banna (with new remix). Show also includes spotlight on Sudan through the music by Nawawe and Aziza Brahim.

Special thanks to DJ Salah for co-hosting this episode.

DJ Ramzi (left) with DJ Salah (right)

Arabology Interviews Michael Malek Najjar, Director of "Scenes from 71* Years"

Listen at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/maleknajjar

Stanford Lecturer/Arabology Radio Host Dr. Ramzi Salti interviews Michael Malek Najjar, Director of Hannah Khalil's play "Scenes from 71* Years"--playing in San Francisco from April 5-May 5, 2018.  Interview was recorded by Skype on April 6, 2019.

Listen below or at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/maleknajjar

For info, tickets, go to www.goldenthread.org

MICHAEL MALEK NAJJAR (Ph.D., UCLA; M.F.A., York University; B.A., University of New Mexico) is an associate professor of Theatre Arts with the University of Oregon. He is the author of Arab American Drama, Film and Performance, 1908 to the Present: A Critical Study and the editor of Four Arab American Plays: Works by Leila Buck, Jamil Khoury, Yussef El Guindi, and Lameece Issaq & Jacob Kader (McFarland) and The Selected Works of Yussef El Guindi (Bloomsbury). He founded Riverside Repertory Theatre (now Tricklock Company) in Albuquerque, NM and is an alumnus of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab, Directors Lab West, The Rawi Screenwriters Lab (Jordan), and British/American Drama Academy. He directed the world premiere of Precious Stones by Jamil Khoury, and has also directed many other Middle Eastern American plays including Scorched by Wajdi Mouawad, 9 Parts of Desire by Heather Raffo, Ecstasy: A Water Fable by Denmo Ibrahim, and When Farah Cries with Golden Thread Productions. He is currently serving on the editorial board of Arab Stages. He co-curated, and was lead director for, Semitic Commonwealth: A Staged Reading Series Comprised of Six Plays by Arab and Jewish Playwrights Exploring the Human Toll of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict at Silk Road Rising, and he is currently co-editing a volume of the plays from that series for McFarland. He is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) and has been recognized for meritorious achievement for directing by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

الدكتور رمزي سلطي يتحدث عن برنامجه الاذاعي الامريكي عربولوجي باللغة العربية Dr. Ramzi Salti Talks about His Arabology Program in Arabic

https://youtu.be/vpSCXqavnrE

يمكنكم الآن مشاهدة هذا الحوار بين الدكتور رمزي سلطي ورامه شققي حول برنامجه عربولوجي الذي يُبث عبر اذاعة جامعة ستانفورد في الولايات المتحدة الامريكية وذلك عبر الرابط التالي.

رامه شققي هي رائدة أعمال سورية، أسست العديد من المشاريع لدعم الشباب في الشرق الأوسط للحصول على تعليم ومستقبل أفضل.

Dr. Ramzi Salti speaks about his Arabology radio show/podcast (in Arabic) as part of the “Digital Media Entrepreneurship Program” run by the VIP.fund in collaboration with Syria Revival Initiative. By special invitation from Rama Chakaki, Founder & Executive Director of the VIP.fund https://vip.fund

Audio only also available below or at at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/vipfund

Video Highlights from Actor Kamel El Basha's Stanford Visit (February 2019)

Watch video at https://youtu.be/nPpCki2ciVA

I just made this video featuring highlights from actor Kamel El Basha's visit to Stanford last month where he spoke about his career + starring role in the Oscar nominated Lebanese film The Insult - قضية رقم ٢٣.  Video includes guest appearances by Zeid Hamdan, Zalfa Rustom and Dr. Touria Boumehdi.

You can watch the video below or at https://youtu.be/nPpCki2ciVA

Kamel El Basha or Kamel el-Bacha (in Arabic كامل الباشا) (born in Jerusalem on 14 March 1962) is a Palestinian theater actor and director and film actor who won the 2017 Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 74th Venice International Film Festival for his role as Yasser Abdallah Salameh in The Insult (also known in Arabic: قضية رقم ٢٣‎, translit. Qadiyya raqm 23, lit. 'Case No. 23') by Lebanese film director Ziad Doueiri.

Kamel El Basha wins Best Actor at Venice Film Festival (2017)

You can also listen to Dr. Ramzi Salti's full radio interview with Kamel El Basha below or at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/kamelelbasha

PHOTOS FROM KAMEL EL BASHA'S STANFORD VISIT (FEB 2019):

Watch video below or at  at https://youtu.be/nPpCki2ciVA

Video Highlights: Zeid Hamdan at Stanford University (Feb 2019)

Watch full video at https://youtu.be/lQ6IyxZnH2M

This video includes 48 minutes of highlights from Lebanese musician Zeid Hamdan's visit to Stanford University on Feb 19, 2019 where he gave two lectures--one in English, one in Arabic--performed live, and visited KZSU 90.1 FM where he was interviewed by Dr. Ramzi Salti for his Arabology radio show. All video clips/music in this visit are for Educational Purposes only.

You can watch the video below or at https://youtu.be/lQ6IyxZnH2M



You can also listen to Dr. Ramzi Salti's radio interview with Zeid Hamdan,below or at this link: https://soundcloud.com/arabology/zeidhamdan



PHOTOS FROM ZEID HAMDAN'S STANFORD VISIT:

Watch full video below or at https://youtu.be/lQ6IyxZnH2M

Stanford Middle East Ensemble Concert at SMF Ft Intro by Ramzi Salti

Watch video at https://youtu.be/1e33HjInu5Q

You can now watch the complete concert by the Stanford Middle East Ensemble at the Stanford MENA Forum 2019 below or at https://youtu.be/1e33HjInu5Q

This concert was part of the Stanford MENA Forum's Cultural Segment which was hosted by Stanford Lecturer + Arabology radio host Dr. Ramzi Salti on March 9, 2019.

The performance included this Set list:

Alf Laylah Wa Laylah muqqadima 

Nassam Alayna 

Semai Shadd Araban 

Lissa Fakir 

Hicaz Mandira 

Ya Rayeh 

Shiddu Il Himmeh 

3ajam medley: Zuruni / Til3it Ya Mahla Nourha / Tal'aa Min Beit Abouha

DJ Sotusura Releases New Album Ft Addictive Remixes and Beats

The latest album by Cairo-based DJ Sotusura has just been released, and it contains some amazing tracks and remixes that will keep you bopping for days.  The album features a mixture of old school hiphop beats mixed with old Arabic samples taken from records that he has collected over the past 6 years.

Titled Saleh Alalhan, this instrumental album includes 16 tracks that were fully produced by DJ Sotusura.  It was released on March 9th 2019 on all platforms and is set to be released on vinyl in June 2019. 

DJ Sotusura has been collecting vinyl records since 2001 and has long focused on finding rare, previously released recordings/gems from the Middle East.

You can sample/purchase the album below or at https://soturecords.bandcamp.com

Ramzi Salti's Talk about Tania Saleh at Stanford MENA Forum (Video)

Watch at https://youtu.be/GDeZhFZrwjk

You can now watch video highlights from Dr. Ramzi Salti's audio-visual talk about Lebanese singer/songwriter/visual artist Tania Saleh​--recorded at the Stanford MENA Forum​ on March 9, 2019.

Watch below or at  https://youtu.be/GDeZhFZrwjk



This lecture included short video clips + music excerpts from Tania Saleh's impressive oeuvre (used for educational purposes only).

For more info about Tania Saleh see http://taniasaleh.com

For more info about the Stanford MENA Forum see https://www.stanfordmenaforum.com/

RADIO INTERVIEWS WITH TANIA SALEH:

You can also listen to Dr. Ramzi Salti's 2018 radio interview with Tania Saleh about her new Intersection alum/project below or at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/taniasaleh2018



You can also listen to Dr. Salti's 2014 interview with Tania Saleh showcasing her "A Few Images" album below or at:  https://soundcloud.com/arabology/arabology-82-tania-saleh-spotlight-interview-2014



You can also listen to Dr. Salti's 2011 interview with Tania Saleh in two parts below or at Part One and Part Two:

Dr. Ramzi Salti is a Lecturer at Stanford + Host of the popular radio program "Arabology" which airs on KZSU 90.1 FM (Stanford). 

Interview with Zeid Hamdan at Stanford ft Rare Songs + Live Session

Listen at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/zeidhamdan

You can now listen to my interview with Zeid Hamdan--which was recorded/aired on KZSU 90.1 FM (Stanford University) on Feb 20, 2019--below or at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/zeidhamdan

ABOUT THE INTERVIEW:

Stanford Lecturer + Arabology Radio Host Dr. Ramzi Salti interviews Lebanese songwriter/singer Zeid Hamdan, the music producer behind some of the most successful bands on the Lebanese and regional alternative scene. Interview also includes questions by Zalfa Rostom and Stanford student Jin Yun.

Zeid Hamdan at KZSU (Stanford University)

Stanford student Jin, Zeid Hamdan, Zalfa Rostom

Zeid Hamdan (left) with DJ Ramzi at KZSU Stanford

This interview focuses on Zeid Hamdan's musical journey and features rare song excerpts + a live session at the end in which Zeid Hamdan sings 3 acoustic songs live at KZSU 90.1 FM (Stanford University). 

Throughout this interview, Zeid Hamdan reminisces about his experiences with such artists and groups as Yasmine Hamdan + SoapKills (Arabic trip hop), The New Government (pop rock), Hiba Mansouri (Arabic trip hop), Kanjha Kora (Guineean Pop), Kazamada (Arabic electro pop) ft Tamer Abu Ghazaleh + Mahmoud Radaideh (Jadal) + Donia Massoud, Maryam Saleh (Arabic electro pop), Dany Baladi (Arabic electro pop), Maii Waleed, Marc Codsi, Zeid and the Wings (New Arabic pop), Marie Abou Khaled aka #Melmo, and Khaled Mouzannar (Capernaum soundtrack).

Listen at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/zeidhamdan

Zeid also discusses his arrest in July 2011 over a song deemed insulting to the Lebanese President where officials reportedly took exception to the lyrics: 'General go home'.

Zeid also discusses his collaboration with Khaled Mouzanar and Nadine Labaki on the soundtrack of the Oscar nominated Lebanese film #Capernaum.

Here are the songs/artists whose excerpts were featured during the show:

1. Balshti bosni (Abdel Wahab) by Soapkills
2. While u are rehearsing by Soapkills
3. Cheftak  by Soapkills
4. Yahoo by Soapkills
5. The New Government by The New Government
6. Ahwak (Zaki Nassif) by Hiba Mansouri
7. Andoude by Kandia Kora
8. General Suleiman by Zeid and the Wings
9. Hawel Ya Ghanam by Kazamada
10. Ayoub by Kazamada
11. Watan el Akk by Maryam Saleh + Zeid Hamdan
12. Nixon Baba (tribal mix) Maryam Saleh + Zeid Hamdan
13. Eslahat ,Maryam Saleh
14. Moga , by Maii Waleed + Zeid Hamdan
15. Ya Jarata (Nazem el Ghazali) by Dany Baladi
16. Allallah (Wadih el Safi) by Dany Baladi
17. Halawella (Ahmed Fouad Negm) by Maryam Saleh
18. Kermelak  by Marie Abou Khaled aka Melmo
19. Asfeh , Zeid and the wings
20. Embarquement Melo from Soundtrack of Roundtrip (Meyar AL Roumi)

LIVE acoustic session by Zeid Hamdan (Guitar, voice) features 3 tracks :

21. Nahr el mot , Zeid Hamdan
22. Mekdas w Abel Zeid Hamdan Zeid
23. Hkini , Zeid Hamdan

For more info on Zeid Hamdan see www.zeidhamdan.com/

Stanford University Vigil for Victims of Christchurch Terror Attack

Hundreds of Stanford University students and community members gathered Friday afternoon to mourn the 49 terror victims killed at two mosques in #Christchurch, New Zealand. 

See my pics below and read more at this link.

Read this piece from the Otago Daily Times at this link

Read "The Faces of the Victims" in The Otago Daily Times at THIS LINK

Read this Opinion Ed by Khaled Beydoun at THIS LINK.

Also read this piece in The Stanford Daily at  THIS LINK

New Graphic Novel Featuring a Jordanian-American Hero is an Indie Hit

Identity Stunt Vol. 1: The Fall Guy, starring a Jordanian-American stuntman, is now for sale in bookstores and comic shops worldwide!  The 100-page action-thriller odyssey is available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, DriveThruComics, and more! 

Writer/Creator Joe R. Khachadourian singing the praises of his latest work

"It's hard to believe we've made it to the finish line," exclaimed writer/creator Joe R. Khachadourian. "It's been quite an adventure for Sami Nasser, myself, and the creative team, and we could not be more proud of the final product! It's my wish that the joy we cultivated while creating the book is shared with those who read it.” 

“This story moves at a break-neck pace,” says artist J. Briscoe Allison, “so to have all of the issues collected in one volume is going to satisfy the 'binge watcher' in all of us! I'm really picky about which projects I work on, but as soon as I read the script, I fell in love! The depth of the characters, the witty dialogue, the insane action...I mean, there's a ten-page car chase!! Who does that?!? Buckle up, friends!”

“Taps microphone: THIS GRAPHIC NOVEL IS ABOUT A JORDANIAN-AMERICAN STUNTMAN!!! Someone option the rights and hire me to direct the screen adaptation!”
Lexi Alexander (Green Street Hooligans, Punisher: War Zone)

“Khachadourian and Allison take everyone for a fun ride with Identity Stunt, featuring snappy dialogue and solid storytelling that sets up a fun and exciting world that draws you right in.”
Jimmy Palmiotti (Harley Quinn, Daredevil, All-Star Western)

“Identity Stunt does several things right when it comes to plot and tone: it tries to pose a twist on the ‘secret identity revealed’ trope, and it also toys with having both a serious enough tone to make its villain seem actually dangerous (and deranged), as well as keeping things light and tongue in cheek where they count, to make the characters seem relatable and fun. That’s what makes it a fresh read (hence the title) in a sea of repetitive, trope-y plots and hero-types.”
Costin Becheanu, Gung-Ho Geeks

Last year, Identity Stunt crashed through the independent comic book industry, leaving a trail of excitement and praise in its wake:

Now, Markosia Enterprises is pleased to announce the release of Identity Stunt Volume 1: The Fall Guy, collecting issues #1-4 of the digital-first critical smash, plus some never-before-seen bonus material.

Jordanian-American stuntman and National Guardsman Sami Nasser is trying to simplify his complicated life -- fulfilling his work commitments, managing his best friend’s self-destructive behavior, and navigating a complicated separation from his ex-wife. Just as he’s getting a handle on things, "Sam" is publicly accused of being the alter ego of Beatdown -- his hometown's notorious and unhinged vigilante -- by the nefarious ganglord Dominus Smith, Beatdown's own arch-nemesis! Squarely in the spotlight, Sam’s caught in the crosshairs of the media, law enforcement, and a slew of sociopaths. Under threat from all sides with his face plastered globally across mainstream media, Sam must battle to reclaim his identity by circumventing the police, outsmarting augmented mercenaries, and protecting his family before things take a turn for the deadly!

Capturing the bombastic tones of '80s and '90s action films, writer Joe R. Khachadourian (Transformers: Mosaic) and artists J. Briscoe Allison (Sweet Lullaby), Ruairi Coleman (KISS/Army of Darkness), and Tone Rodriguez (Shadowhawk) bring you a relentless odyssey involving complex characters, a touch of romance, and a fistful of masked lunatics!

This is what happens when the fall guy fights back.

Identity Stunt Volume 1: The Fall Guy is available now, digitally at DriveThruComics, and in print at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and more!
Identity Stunt #1 and #2 are sold out in print, with second printings on the way. Further details can be found at the Identity Stunt Store.

#ABeatdownIsComing2019

(c) 2019 Joe R. Khachadourian

IdentityStunt.com fb.me/IdentityStunt
###

Arabology Interviews El Far3i (Tareq Abu Kwaik)

Here is my 2-part radio interview with Tareq Abu Kwaik (El Far31 الفرعي) who, with 47SOUL, will be performing at Slim's in San Francisco on March 13, 2019. Tickets at this link.

Listen to PART ONE below or at  https://soundcloud.com/arabology/elfar3i1

Listen to PART TWO below or at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/elfar3i2

El Far3i is a groundbreaking songwriter, percussionist and vocalist, currently based in Amman and London.  He is the Founder of an Arabic Folk and Acoustic Rap solo act (El Far3i) and Hip-Hop Mc Far3 El Madakhil.

These interviews were conducted at KZSU 90.1 FM by Stanford Lecturer Dr. Ramzi Salti, Host of the radio show "Arabology" which airs throughout the San Francisco bay area.  Previous episodes available at soundcloud.com/arabology

يمكنكم الآن الاستماع الى حواري الاذاعي مع طارق أبو كويك الماقب بالفرعي وهو يتحدث عن بداية رحلته في عالم الموسيقى لحين انضمامه الى فرقة السبعة وأربعين. تتكون هذه المقابلة من جزئين متوفرين عبر الرابطين التاليين:.

للاستماع الى الجزء الاول أنقر هنا

للاستماع الى الجزء الثاني أنقر هنا

47Soul in Concert in San Francisco on March 13 (Promo ft El Far3i)

Don't miss 47Soul live in concert at Slim's in San Francisco on March 13, 2019 at 8 pm PST.  For info and tickets, please go to THIS LINK.

Here is an excerpt from my forthcoming Arabology interview with 47Soul band member Tareq Abu Kwaik (El Far3i) in which he discusses the group and promotes the upcoming concert at Slim's in San Francisco (listen below or at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/47soulsfpromo)

47SOUL is an Electro Arabic Dabke (Shamstep) band formed in Amman Jordan in 2013.

The current lineup includes: Z the People (vocals & synths) El Far3i (darbouka, Mc/Vocals) Walaa Sbeit (percussion, Mc/vocals) El Jehaz (guitar & vocals).

For tickets to the San Francisco concert on March 13, 2019 please go to:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/47soul-slims-tickets-55540759908