Al Qahwa CD Release Concert for “Weyn Allah”

Al Qahwa's latest recording "Weyn Allah" is being released in June 2023 followed by a summer tour across Canada. Each member of the group contributed to the original material inspired by music from North Africa, Greece, Iran, The Middle East, as well as musical influences from jazz, folk and Irish music thrown into the mix. This is the result of the cultural and musical backgrounds of the members of this group. This concert will showcase uplifting and energetic music with North African and Arabic rhythms and melodies interpreted with the spirit of jazz. Maryem Tollar's distinct voice has been heard across genres from Bollywood to Canadian TV's Little Mosque on the Prairie to R. Murray Schafer's Children's Crusade to Baroque music with Tafelmusik - defying labels and genres. This performance will feature the vocal heavy repertoire from the CD "Weyn Allah" sung by Maryem Tollar and soaring over rich Pan African Arabian grooves by Waleed Abdulhamid and Naghmeh Farahmand, Mediterranean stringwork by Demetri Petsalakis, the sound of the Nile, the Sahara desert and Coltrane's jazz in Ernie Tollar's woodwinds, and joyful ecstatic dance by Roula Said. Al Qahwa's set will be followed by Toronto Duo - Catchfiyah (Demetri Petsalakis and Lauren Barnett). Catchfiyah is an electronic duo based in Toronto, Canada. Band members Lauren Barnett and Demetri Petsalakis create a musical blend of house, jazz, R&B and global music, which has been described as “futuristic yet soulful”. They have independently released two EP's, "Catchfiyah" and "Price to Pay. Catchfiyah’s vibrant and dynamic sound has been gaining recognition in the Toronto music scene and is sure to keep you dancing all night long.