Music

Keyboard Wiz Hobert to Jam With Syrian Virtuoso

Barbara Arnold |

Hobart (left and Oudyano.
Hobart (left) and Oudyano.

Chippewa Valley music lovers of all kinds: Are you ready for an Arabic classical tradition meeting American jazz and roots? Then come listen to the duo Oudyano who will be jamming on the piano and the oud at the Eau Claire Music School, 1620 Ohm Ave., on Friday, Sept. 23, at 7pm (with a pre-concert talk at 6:30pm). Oudyano is a collaboration between two musicians: Issam Rafea from the East (i.e., the Middle East, Damascus, Syria) and Steven Hobert from the West (i.e, the Middle West, Minneapolis). They met by chance in Minneapolis’ Uptown neighborhood and took a half hour to play together. After their first notes, they cried out with joy for their playing was easy, fun, and organic. Thus Oudyano was born. (For a taste, check out stevenhobert.bandcamp.com/album/oudyano.) Rafea is the oud player and composer who is considered a virtuoso Syrian musician. The oud is similar in shape to a lute and is common in Arabic, Greek, Jewish, Persian, and Turkish music. Rafea served as chair of the Arabic Music Department at the High Institute of Music in Damascus, and he was on the faculty of the Arab Conservatory. In 2013, he was invited to direct the Middle Eastern Music Ensemble at the Northern Illinois University School of Music. His credits include Best Composer Award at the Dubai International Film Festival, principal conductor of the Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music, and collaboration with the band Gorillaz, among many others. Hobert is a multi-channel musician who creates “music with heart, wonder, and surprise.” His genre-blending piano, accordion, and vocal music “dazzles audiences with sincerity and playfulness to open up hearts and fire imaginations.” He is a Blugold, having graduated from UW-Eau Claire in 2006 with a B.A. in music-liberal arts. Hobert credits UWEC faculty members Bob Baca, Nobuyoshi Yasuda, and Donald Patterson for inspiring him to follow his dream. Upon graduating, he toured for a year as pianist for the Glen Miller Orchestra. He now tours as a soloist, plays in a duo with Dean Magraw, and leads the world beat-driven ensemble FireFlyForest as well as the Steven Hobert Jazz Quartet. Tickets for Oudyano are $15 ($10 for students) and can be purchased at eauclairemusicschool.com or at the door.