Mike's Oud Forums

Summer of Fun - Part One

Mike - 9-28-2006 at 07:39 PM

As you all know...Mav came to visit Southern California last month. We really had a great time. We were able to visit with John Bilezikjian (twice), Viken Najarian, Wael Kakish, and concluded with a great get together at Jonathan Varjabedian's house. We met Paul Maranian (aka maran) and a nice singer named Vanya, who recently moved to So Cal. Here are some photos of his visit, and also some video that Lee Varis shot as well of Mav, Afif, and Peter. Sorry Lee that it took me so long to get these up my man, and thanks again for sending them.

Part Two of Summer of Fun will be chronicling Jameel Abraham's visit last weekend. All us So Cal dudes were lucky to have these two great fellas come out and visit this summer. We all look forward to doing it again.

- Mav plays Karybian Oud
- Mav plays Varjabedian Oud
- Afif plays Farouk Shehata Oud
- Peter (aka truepharaoh21) plays Manol Oud

Mav jams with Uncle John Bilezikjian



Dinner at Rosine's and visiting Viken Najarian at his shop.



JV knows how to throw a party!




Hanging out at John B's house again. Playing his Karybian and Manol ouds.


SamirCanada - 9-28-2006 at 08:12 PM

Those pictures are awsome Mike and gang!
expecialy the last one there with EL DON Señor B
priceless.

Mav your playing and singing was amazing. From time to time... you could give us a few taqasims here and there PLEASE!

Afif's playing isnt describable by words.

And finaly... the file posted for Peter isnt the right one...

Looks like you guys had a hell of a time. Well done on J Varjabedian for that party. Must have been a real blast.
looking forward to see the pics of Jameel.

This is the spirit of these forrums right here!! GReat stuff

Jason - 9-28-2006 at 08:40 PM

Afif is wild haha I love his playing, it's very firey.

Your playing is great Mav, very emotional and well thought out.

oudi - 9-28-2006 at 10:35 PM

Mike
please post peter play again because the file posted for Peter isnt the right one.
Thanks

jazzchiss - 9-29-2006 at 12:06 AM

Afif is a master!

And I like the small sleeve that Mav uses in his right arm. :)

oudman - 9-29-2006 at 02:29 AM

Wow, im jealous. Looks like you guys had a ton of fun ;)

oudplayer - 9-29-2006 at 05:55 AM

hey guys
wow i wish i was there you guys had a great time it seams

btw eveyone nice playing i like alot
thx sammy

mavrothis - 9-29-2006 at 06:59 AM

What a beautiful time! Thanks for all your nice comments guys, it was really one of the best times I've every had. Ouds all weekend, and so many players to hear and learn from. :)

We should do this more often!

Thanks to Mike, Jonathan, Wael, and Lee for everything, you guys are too generous. I hope I can see you all again soon.

Mr. Bilezikjian and Mr. Najarian were also very generous with their time (and instruments); I'm still reeling from all the amazing ouds I played out there...

Thanks again,

mavrothis :D

John Erlich - 9-29-2006 at 04:07 PM

What a bunch of geeks! It's great to know I'm not the only one!:wavey:

Thanks for posting the great photos. :airguitar:

All the best,
John

ALOMARI - 9-29-2006 at 11:30 PM

afif is rapidly growing to be on the top of my favorite list , along with abadi , modathir , and naseer

Monawar Al-Jabar - 9-30-2006 at 02:22 AM

Hi mike

What a party just look at the nice Oud’s and also nice people with Afif plays Farouk Shehata Oud what can i say excellent. Mav that was cool playing oud like at true professional.

Thanks’ again mike for the excellent video clips
:applause::applause::applause::applause:

Mike - 9-30-2006 at 05:01 PM

We really did have a great time. We should plan stuff like this more often. Maybe just not people in Cali, but others who live close to each other. Makes for a lot of fun putting the faces to the screen names. Anyway, here are a few more shots of when we were at JV's house. I will fix the link above as soon as I get a chance. Sorry about that guys.

Hey Geeks in the Bay Area....let's get together soon. Whatdya say??? :airguitar:


ALOMARI - 10-1-2006 at 12:33 AM

Quote:
Hey Geeks in the Bay Area....let's get together soon. Whatdya say??? :airguitar:



ageek from the harbor city -bay area , california .
lets make it happen guys !!!

Jonathan - 10-2-2006 at 10:32 AM

Mike, thanks for posting some pics. Seriously, a night I won't forget. I can't even begin to thank you guys for all of it, and I am glad you and Lee had the sense to record it and take some photos. I didn't.
I don't know if I have ever heard better music in my life. A dream for me, with so much incredible music bouncing off the walls. Had to call my folks 2000 miles away on the phone during the middle of it just so they could hear it.
From the bottom of my heart, guys, thanks.
Hopefully, we will be able to have many more such nights in the months and, inshallah, in the years and decades to come.
Thanks, Mav, for giving us an excuse to do this. And for everything else.

SamirCanada - 10-2-2006 at 03:22 PM

Mav looks like a kid in a candy store in that last pic...
hahaa

John Erlich - 10-3-2006 at 08:58 AM

An SF Bay Area Oudgeekathon would be awesome, Mike! Are you thinking of visiting us? I might be able to help a bit with the organizing, but I unfortunately can't offer my home (we would want to jam way past my 2-yr-old son's bedtime!).:airguitar:

Let me know, bud...

All the best,
Udi John

Mike - 10-3-2006 at 02:54 PM

I have a sister who lives in Pebble. She's been bugging me to bring my parents up for a visit for the longest time. Maybe I can plan that, and that same weekend we can get together somewhere on a Saturday night or something. Let's make it happen Geo!