Join us for an evening of modal music presented by Nimble Ensemble (https://www.labyrinthontario.com/)
Toronto-based music organisation Labyrinth Ontario presents Araz Salek, Canan Sezgin Geylan and Yahya Geylan at The Kafana! With Araz on the tar, he joins husband-wife duo Canan (vocals and violin) and Yahya (vocals, oud) for an evening of energetic modal music. They bring Turkish and Iranian musical background to Belleville, with influences from the broader contemporary modal music community.

Contemporary modal music takes deeply related sonic traditions from Central, West, and South Asia, and the Mediterranean and forms cross-cultural collaborations. Labyrinth Ontario’s goal is to bring awareness of other musical traditions, and expand musical idioms beyond those confined to a political border. Come learn more about this ever-evolving genre on February 13th at The Kafana!

The Kafana is excited to provide this opportunity for the Belleville community to enjoy the unique experience of modal music here in the Quinte region. In an effort to create accessibility to this music, we have decided NOT to require a ticket purchase for this experience. However, we truly appreciate you contributing within your means, to ensure these fantastic musicians are compensate for the hard work learning this beautifully complicated musical tradition, and traveling to us here in Belleville.

We encourage all those intrigued and interested to join us regardless of financial means, but keep in mind tickets for Labyrinth Nimble shows often range in the $25-30 area. Please contribute generously within your means

All seating is first-come/first-sit

The Kafana bar and kitchen will be open for your snacking and drinking enjoyment during the performance.

The musicians:
Araz Salek, a Persian tar (lute) player from Tehran, began his training at eight under master musicians Hooshang Zarif, Arshad Tahmasebi, and Hossein Omoumi. He has taught extensively in Iran and Canada, including at the University of Tehran, Shawrak Music School, and the Labyrinth Musical Workshop. As Artistic Director of Labyrinth Ontario, which he co-founded in 2017, he promotes modal music traditions. Araz experiments across genres, with highlights including his solo album Birth and the Toronto/Crete quartet “This Tale of Ours.”

Canan Sezgin Geylan was born in Samsun, Turkey, into a family of musicians. First learning the mandolin, and later the violin, Canan developed her vocal style and technique with her father’s extensive archive of prominent vocal and instrumental masters. In addition to co-hosting the GEYLAN MUSIC YouTube channel, Canan and her husband Yahya Geylan prepared and performed Music From Home to Home concert program and produced the TV program Gönüller Bir Olsun (Let Hearts Unite) for the TRT Music Channel. Canan currently serves as an artist with the Istanbul State Turkish Music Ensemble, operating under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Directorate of the Presidential Classical Turkish Music Choir.

Born in Izmir, Turkey, Yahya Geylan is a classical music vocalist at TRT Istanbul Radio and conductor of Üsküdar Music Society, Neva Music Ensemble, and ISTUN Ensemble. As a soloist, he has performed in countless concerts internationally; including with the Pera Ensemble at the Festival Sesc de Música de Câmara in Brazil and A Pole in the Palace: Ali Ufki Bey with the Saz-ü Söz ensemble. Yahya is a constant collaborator with his wife, Canan Sezgin Geylan. Together they hosted the live radio program Studio Istanbul, the 13-episode concert series Gönüller Bir Olsun (Let Hearts Unite), and released the duet album Aşkın Dansı (The Dance of Love).