Singers at the Fifth Annual Mesopotamian Night

Five Assyrian singing talents will be performing the Assyrian songs of Vania David and Misha Ashoorian at the fifth Annual Mesopotamian Night concert. In the article below Sargon Alkurge has gathered a summary of their biography and artistic accomplishments.

By: Sargon Alkurge

LAZAR MALKO



Lazar was born in Beirut, Lebanon to Assyrian parents, Hormiz and Chima Malko.  His Family decided to immigrate to the USA and after spending four years in Greece, they arrived in Chicago, Illinois in 1980.  That became their new home and they lived there since then.  At a young age, Lazar remembers how fascinated he was listening to his father singing and playing the “Oud”, a Middle Easterner pear-shaped stringed instrument, as he was a big fan of the legendary Lebanese singer Farid Al-Atrash.  It wasn’t long until Lazar discovered his passion for singing so he joined the Choir group at the Assyrian Church in Chicago.  When Lazar was still in high school, his brother introduced him to a group of Assyrian youth that was looking for a singer for their newly formed band.  For the next four years he performed with the band at Assyrian parties and weddings.  He received many positive response and attention from the Assyrian community in Chicago for his exquisite vocals and talents.  It was just a matter of time until Lazar decided in early 90’s to turn to solo career and began to sing professionally.  He also started to pursue his dream of making an album of his own.  That dream became reality in 1996, when he released his first album titled “Murre Kha Khabra” which marked the beginning of a very successful career. 

In addition to his singing talent, Lazar has composed almost all of his songs and wrote many of the lyrics.  His songs became instant hits and popular among Assyrian music fans nationwide.  He continued his success and so far he has produced six albums including his latest 2011 album “Kasreh Rameh”.  Lazar has worked with great musicians and song writers’ icons like Ninos Nirary, Odisho Younan, Nimo Marcos and many others to ensure quality music that Assyrians would be proud of.

Albums released so far

- 1996 Murre Kha Khabra

- 1999 Lazar  

- 2003 Free To Dance

- 2005 Ashtar

- 2010 Greatest Hits

- 2011 Kasreh Rameh

Listen to one of Lazar's top songs:



SALEM SEFO



Salem was born in Kirkuk, Iraq and he started to play the Guitar at a very young age. In 1978 he joined his first band, the Bee Band and his musical career advanced when he became the lead singer of his second band, Sweet Band.  His career was interrupted when he and his family decided to leave Iraq. He arrived in Chicago, IL and made it his new home since. It didn’t take long until he restarted his musical career and pursued his ultimate dream which was to come out with his own CD. The dream became true when he released his album debut “Bet Nahrain” in 2001 which was an instant hit. He continued his success and produced three more albums the most recent in 2010 titled "Khaeya Atour."

Salem is a very talented musician that is admired by many other singers because of the quality music he produces for them. Most recently he contributed six musical melodies for Emanouel Bet Younan hit album “Dyouta”. This musical talent runs in the entire Sefo’s family, Salem’s younger brothers Wesam, Ashur and Audisho Sefo are also great musicians and members of the well known band The “Bandoleros”

Albums released so far
- 2001 Bet Nahrain
- 2004 Where Is The Love
- 2007 Bzamrin Boot Shooprakh
- 2010 Khaeya Atour

Listen to one of Salem's top songs:

 

 TONY GABRIEL

Tony was born in 1972 in Kirkuk, Iraq. His father was a truck driver for an oil company, and his mother was a housewife who took care of raising Tony, four sisters and three brothers. His brother James was his role model while he was growing up, he taught him everything about singing. He started his singing career in 1988 in Kirkuk and two years later he went to Baghdad to join "Ashur King's band" that performed at Nineveh and Ashoor's banquet halls. In 1997, he left Iraq and lived in several other countries, significantly in Holland and Jordan, until he settled in Hamilton, Canada. In 2000 he restarted his singing career in his new home performing alongside keyboard player Wail Yako. Tony instantly became popular and in demand at Assyrian parties, picnics and weddings in Canada and all around the world.

He has released four very successful albums with lyrics written mostly by his brother James Gabriel and three live albums.

Albums released so far
- 2004 Qaala D' Qarna
- 2007 Khoba Khata
- 2009 Tony Gabriel 09
- 2011 Khloola

Listen to one of Tony's top songs:

 JOWAN DAVID "BULBUL"

Jowan was born in Baghdad, Iraq and raised in Chicago, IL where she currently lives. Since she was a little girl, Jowan would always say that her dream is to become an Assyrian artist known around the world. That dream became true, at the age of 21 Jowan released her first album and not surprisingly she called it "A Dream Came True (Khulma el shrara khdreh)". Her career moved ahead and she started to perform all around the world. Her second album "Khayen" released in 2009 was a smash hit with song "Zowaa" receiving a national recognition and admiration. This year Jowan has released her third album Called "Basa Ya Donyeh" with collaboration of many of top Assyrian musicians and lyrics writers.

Albums released so far
- 2004 "A Dream Came True"
- 2009 "Khahyin"
- 2011 "Basa Ya Donyeh"

Listen to one of Bulbul's top songs:

Rita Toma Davoud



"Oh, my God, it was unbelievable. It has always been my dream to become a singing star, and in that moment, my dream came true," Rita Toma Davoud said after wining the first ever "Assyrian Superstar," an "American Idol"-like competition held in Chicago back in May 2006. Two years later she released her debut album “Gashaqtet Khoba.”
The distinguished writer Helen Talia once wrote “I feel that in given time and with enough performance maturity, our beloved Rita can accomplish great musical heights. She most certainly has the vocal charm and softness to be adorned as Assyria’s Ambassador of Peace.”
Rita was born in Duhok, Iraq, raised in Detroit, MI. and after getting married she moved with her family to Phoenix, AZ. She is currently working on her second album but no release date has been set.

Album released so far
- 2008 “Gshaqtet Khoba"

Listen to one of Rita's top songs:

A clip from "Malek Rama" Musical Rehearsals

"Malek Rama: The Handsome Prince" is a musical based on poems of Rabi Hannibal Alkhas. This musical is commissioned and sponsored the Assyrian Aid Society of America thanks to a generous grant from "Eden Frye Assyrian Fund for Culture". The composition is done by Edwin Elieh and 15 volunteer singers from California are currently rehearsing. The musical will be premiered in Mesopotamian Night 2012 event at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts on February 18th.

The following clip is an excerpts from a recent rehearsal with a few interviews of the singers.

Introducing Youbert Lazar's Nastaligh Art

Calligraphist Youbert Lazar might not be well known to Assyrians around the world but he is a familiar name and face among the Iranian art community. This year, the Mesopotamian Night team has approached him and we proudly announce that his donated art will be auctioned at our event. We welcome him to a growing number of artists joining us for a spectacular display of Assyrian arts and culture. Mr. Lazar has also made efforts to join the small club of Assyrian Calligraphy artists. In his private communications Rabi Issa Benyamin has always admired and commanded his artistic talent and has encouraged him to also contribute to Assyrian calligraphy.

Below is a short biography of this talented Assyrian.

Art is the reflection of beauty. Calligraphy, the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner, is a type of fine art. One of the most beautiful and complicated forms of calligraphy is the art of Nastaliq, which is traditionally considered to be the most elegant of the Persian scripts. Your eyes will enjoy watching the words dancing together with their natural curves in harmony. It is known as “The Bride of the Calligraphy Scripts”.

Youbert Lazar was born in 1946, Urmi, Iran. He, accompanied his family, moved to the beautiful historical city of Hamedan in 1950. His passion for lettering began with the learning of Nastaligh handwriting at the primary school. He practiced calligraphy imitating beautiful scripts enthusiastically. He was always applauded by veteran calligrapher Hasan Asasi. In 1958, his high school literature teacher, Ahmad Ghayemi, encouraged him to begin practicing under tuition of Ghlolam Hosein Homayouni, one of the most well-known Iranian mentors. A few years later, he continued learning of calligraphy under tuition of Bahman vakiliyan and he became a member of the Hamedan Calligraphy Society. At the same time, he started teaching and calligraphy for advertisement signs. Traveling to different cities of Iran in 1963, he started topography and cartography.

He then migrated to America and settled in San Jose, North California and continued cartography. Since then, he has been collaborating with various magazines and media regarding calligraphy, tutoring and teaching in Persian schools. In recent years, he held some local exhibitions which were applauded by Iranian community in America.

Auction Art Piece

Size: 2 ' 6 " x 3 ', Ink
Value: $1500
Text: Hafez poem
If you would like to have this piece before our live auction on Feb 18th 2012 please contact us at mesopotamiannight@gmail.com

Below are some other art pieces of Mr. Lazar.

 

MN2012 second video ad

5th Mesopotamian Night will present the Assyrian songs 0f 1970s by composer Vania David and lyrics writer Misha Ashoorian. The songs are orchestrated by Edwin Elieh. Assyrian singers Rita Toma Davoud, Jowan David, Salem Sefo, Tony Gabriel and Lazar Malko will perform these songs at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts on Feb. 18th 2012. The event is sponsored by the Assyrian Aid Society of America, a 501c California organization. Tickets are available for sale at box office and at this web site.

Our latest ad for MN2012

Malek Rama: The Handsome Prince is an Assyrian musical based a poem by late Hannibal Alkhas and composed by Edwin Elieh. The work is commissioned by Assyrian Aid Society of America thanks for a generous grant from the Naby Frye Assyrian Culture Fund and in honor of Mishael and Lillie Naby. It will be premiered on February 18, 2012 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts in Bay area California. Tickets are available for sale now at box office and at this link.

Seating Chart for MN2012

Tickets are available for sale now through this website.

Mesopotamian Night 2012 Tickets Now Available

Finally our team finalized the ticket prices at out fifth Annual Mesopotamian Night concert. To purchase you tickets early on and ensure bets seating please use the link below:

http://www.mesopotamian-night.org/p/tickets.html

As of next week the tickets will be available at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts website as well as the box office.

If you have any questions please contact us.