Summer of Fun - Part Four

I'm in

I'm definitely there!

My house is available either day - I have a newly remodeled rehearsal room in the detached garage - nice acoustics – room for twenty oudis... but I'm game for anyplace!

I'm in too! Can't wait. I'd love to see your place Lee.

Saturday is better

I'm open for anything - I'm already planning for it. I think Saturday is better because we can all stay late and not worry about going to work the next day. I can have the house open early – say 4:00 on, come whenever! Let me know which day you prefer!

Oud Summit – Sunday May 18th

Ok... so the count down begins for the southern California oud get together!

Those of you who might be in southern California this coming weekend – let us know if you're planning on coming by. If you haven't already received an email from me please email me at: varis@varis.com and I'll send you an address and directions. I'm hoping we can start around 6:00 PM and go as late as people are willing.

Let us know if you'll make it.

Last Chance

Well... its almost time for our oud summit. Starting at around 6 PM today (Sunday May 18th) we'll be sharing our passions for the oud with 2 great oud masters as well as some great younger players. Mike and Jameel will be bringing the great John Belizekjian over to my house. We will also be hosting Dr. Munir Bekken, the great Turkish master (and now Professor at UCLA) – right now I don't know how many others will be coming though I've heard that Peter (TruePharaoh) will be in attendance and we may have a few more surprises!

So... if any of you are in southern California tonight, please stop by for an evening of great music! email me at: varis@varis.com or call 323-937-3793 and I'll give you directions.

Stay tuned for videos and mp3 clips of the event!

First of all, I want to send out a big thank you to Lee Varis for hosting our 4th gathering (small and cozy as it might have been) last weekend. I wish more people would have shown up to enjoy the art of two very special oudmasters. Another huge thank you goes to Mr. John Belizikjian for spending about 5 hours with Lee, Jameel, and I in his home just talking and sharing all things oud. We had a blast Uncle B! Thanks also to Professor Munir Beken for joining us at Lee's. You are truly inspiring, and now we all know why Mav plays like Mav. Right Mavro? Finally, thanks to Jameelo for his exquisite craftsmanship and for delivering the new baby by hand. You da man Jameelo.

Okay, enough blabbing. Here are some pictures documenting the weekend. Stay tuned for some video.

Aaaahh! I wish I could have been there! Thanks for sharing these wonderful pictures though, it's better than nothing that's for sure.

I'm very glad you had this really historic opportunity to have all these oud masters together in the same room (full of unbelievable old and new ouds!). Please send my hellos to Mr. Bilezikjian and Dr. Beken, they are wonderful people on top of all their talents.

Hopefully next time I can sneak into the party too...



mav

What a weekend. John Bilzeikjian was a gracious host for Mike, Lee and me. He played more ouds than I can remember and showed us some real gems from his collection. Thanks John! We followed John to a gig at a local Armenian restaurant, where he played for over 3 hours, only a few feet from us. He ran the gamut from Isaac Albeniz's Asturias, to Farid's Ya Gamil Ya Gamil, to The Tennessee Waltz (!), to some Beatles songs. He even threw in some Armenian repertoire and taqasim to satisfy the restaurant owner. It was a memorable evening, and that doesn't include the garlic sauce that came with dinner (you know what I'm talking about Mike!) The next day we gathered at Lee's place (thanks Lee) again with John B. and Lee's friend Pr. Munir Beken from the UCLA. What a treat to hear these two jam together. Later in the evening, Peter Refala and his father Alphonse joined the party, and added some Arabic flavor to what had been until that point mostly Turkish and Armenian, with a little Greek added in thanks to Lee's nice performance. It was truly a cosmopolitan oud meeting. I'm still working on getting some videos together from the weekend, but for now here's a video of Peter doing his thing on Mike's new oud.

Peter plays Farido Rast Taqasim

to a fine rast, player & maker. C

Pix from the Magic Weekend

Hi all,

Well... I didn't take as many photos as I should have because mostly I was too stunned to move – just staring with amazement, my jaw on the floor. I did record some MP3s which will be coming in about a week or so after I get back from Finland.

Anyway here's some shots including some details of Jameel's ouds:

http://www.varis.com/Summer_o_Fun-4_Ouds/

Fantastic pictures Lee! They came out great. But where's Harrison Ford? He was supposed to be holding Mike's oud!

To make Lee's photography look even more totally awesome, here's some lousy cinematography by your's truly. Enjoy.

TP21 (Peter) plays Mike's oud

Maestro Lee plays his Dincer oud

John Bilezikjian and Munir Beken play Abraham ouds

Longa with Bilezikjian and Beken

John B. plays Huseyni Saz Semai

Munir Beken plays taqsim

John Bilezikjian amplified

John B. plays the Beatles

Lee, where did you get the stand for this Oud? It's really awesome!

Is there someone out there who makes them, or designs for one out there?

Thanks for uploading the videos Jameel, I really was looking forward to watch them!

All of them were fun to watch! I love Peter's taqseem and John's playing at the cafe, wish I'd been there with you guys..

Keep it up,

oh, any more videos on the way? excuse my greed but you guys play great..

Awsome feast to the ears and the eyes! Oud lovers paradise! So I guess it's official, Oud 4 is Mike's. Congrats Mike, this is a truley beautiful instrument, play it in good health

Photos in Flash

I cant stop playing the Dr Beken videos
Mike mabrouk on the gorgeous oud, enjoy

Great pictures and videos guys.
Congratulations about all the wonderfull moments.
Beken Bey,you are a real master.....I wish I was near you to study your style,your playing comes from your heart,from your soul....Gujel Taksim Usta
God bless you all.
Regards to all
Spyros

Azar oud

Yes... I had some "pegheads, mechanical internal planetary screw, pegs installed. These are a bit expensive but they turn like silk - very smooth and they are not "heavy" like regular mechanical tuners.

I'm very happy with the Azar oud – I also had it refinished with a french polish shellac and put a pickup inside under the bridge. Its a very cool "modern" instrument. Samir makes very good ouds and I reccomend them for anyone considering a "floating bridge". type oud.