"Born in Lebanon, based here for years, guitarist and composer Sami Moukaddem draws fruitfully on his Middle Eastern heritage to create this fascinating jazz hybrid. It's a seamless union; neither the compositions nor the performances depend on exoticism to make an impact. Leading a superior quintet of Brendan Doyle (alto/tenor/clarinet), Myles Drennan (percussion/piano), Fadi Hatoum (darbuka/daff) and Jose Carlos Flores (electric bass), with drummer Stephen Keogh guesting on two tracks, Moukaddem takes them through a rhythmically beguilling set of pieces to enjoyable effect. If Moukaddem's affinity for the material is a given, Doyle's is remarkable. He's in brilliant form here, constantly conjuring up improvisations that seem woven indissolubly from the evocative fabric of the guitarist's originals. One to savour."

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"Today, like every other day, we wake up empty and frightened. Don't open the door to the study and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument. Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are a hundred ways to kneel and kiss the ground." -Rumi

Upcoming Gig JJSmyths, Sunday 20th of June Address: Aungier Street Dublin 2 Venue URL: http://www.jjsmyths.com Admission: €10/8 Doors Open: 20:00 read more ...besides writing and music Music    The first four years of my life were mainly in Brazil, then in Lebanon during the civil war. In 1985 I emigrated to Ireland and enrolled in Trinity College Dublin. In 1994 I graduated with three Masters in Psychology. As a counselling psychologist (therapist), I worked for four and a half years years in the area of sexual abuse; adults who have been abused in childhood, and adolescents who have abused younger children. Then I worked with refugees, most of whom have been tortured in their country of origin. My last official psychology position was working in nine different inner city Dublin schools - that was in the summer of 2003. read more   Short Cuts Writing Music About me Photos Music videos Contact Filmmaking Buy CDs Buy Book