Teslim

Teslim (TesLEEM) means both 'commit' and 'surrender' in Turkish and features violinist Kaila Flexer and Gari Hegedus on various (mostly plucked) strings including Turkish saz, Iraqi oud, Greek lauoto and hand drums. This potent duo performs traditional music from Greece, Turkey and the Middle East as well as original music (by Flexer, Hegedus and others) inspired by these traditions. They are currently in the studio recording a CD which will be released in early 2008.

The ensemble was recently awarded a City of Oakland grant for a project called Ladder of Gold which will feature Sephardic, Mizrahi and original music in spring of 2008.