World Music Institute (WMI) will be presenting live music once more, after 2020’s COVID pause. WMI will celebrate its 36th year in New York City with a dazzling and eclectic lineup of world music artists. The season will begin with an encore performance from multinational devotional group Riyaaz Qawwali on Friday, September 17, 2021 at Kaufman Music Center.
Following a sold-out WMI performance at the historic Cathedral of St. John the Divine in 2019, Riyaaz Qawwali swill retur to is back in New York City. The ensemble includes an ethnically and spiritually diverse group of musicians from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who are dedicated to promoting awareness of qawwali and honoring the 700-year old tradition of this devotional musical form. recordings include Kashti and Ishq.
In June, Riyaaz Qawwali’s Artistic Director Sonny K. Mehta joined the “WMI Plus at Home” virtual series for a conversation with South Asia Institute Executive Director, Asad Ali Jafri, to explore the past, present, and future of this devotional music tradition. WMI continues to present this free, monthly, online series, with Leyla McCalla on Sept 13 and Natu Camara on Sept 27, and more to come.
Origins Series
Riyaaz Qawwali
Friday, September 17, 2021
Doors: 7:00 p.m., Show: 7:30 p.m.
Kaufman Music Center
129 W 67th St, Manhattan, NY
More information at www.worldmusicinstitute.org
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.