Pictures Through The Painted Window by Bustan Abraham

The musical backgrounds of Bustan Abraham's members are very rich and represent an astonishing variety of musical cultures including classical Arabic music, classical European music, jazz, Turkish, Persian and Indian music, flamenco and American folk music.

The instruments played are unusually diverse. Middle Eastern instruments include the oud (Arab lute), qanoun (oriental zither) and a range of percussion instruments such as durbakkeh, daff, zarb and bandir frame drums to name only a few. These are joined by Western instruments including transverse flute, classical and flamenco guitar, contrabass, electric bass, and 5-string banjo. In addition the violin is utilized in both Middle Eastern as well as Western forms of playing. Also represented is an astonishing array of international percussion instruments too numerous to mention! The successful integration of this combination of instruments has never before been presented on the concert stage. The music which embodies this rich diversity is entirely original and was composed and arranged in a cooperative effort by all members of the group.

Bustan aspires to create a new musical form, which speaks to both Eastern and Western audiences, and to pave the way for other joint creative efforts between Arabs and Jews. The group has become a symbol of uncompromising instrumental composition, which has created a new standard of originality in Israeli music, and world music in general, and has received rave reviews to that effect from audiences and critics alike.

Bustan have toured extensively throughout the world between 1992 & 2003 it's powerful stage performance have been always greeted with standing ovations by audiences.

Bustan Abraham's members are:

Taiseer Elias-oud, violin

Amir Milstein-flute

Avshalom Farjun-qanoun

Emmanuel Mann -bass

Zohar Fresco-percussion

Miguel Herstein-classical guitar and banjo

Nassim Dakwar-violin

Yehuda Siliki-baglama & vocals

Guest artist on this cd:

Miranda Elias - vocal in Arabic

Lea Avraham - vocals in Hebrew

Daniela Buchbinder - Cello

DISCOGRAPHY:

BUSTAN ABRAHAM, 1992, NADA 7

PICTURE THROUGH THE PAINTED WINDO, 1994, NADA 8

ABADAI with Ross Daly, 1996, NADA 9

FANAR- with guest artists (Zakir Hussain and Hariprasad Chaurasia),1997, NADA13

HAMSA - 2000 , NADA 14

AHARA-The first decade collection, 2000, NADA 18

Bustan Abraham Live! 2004, Nada 30

Average Customer Review: 5