Diwansaz

Diwan means ‘a group gathering.’ Saz is a musical instrument. Diwansaz is a multicultural band of nine Jewish, Christian & Muslim musicians who perform ancient music from Central Asia, Turkey, Persia, and the Holy Land – – promoting peace and understanding in the Middle East through music.
Diwansaz marry together two great traditions that coexist in the region – that of Hebrew and Arabic music.
The ensemble has performed in festivals and venues throughout Europe, Israel, India and several prestigious festivals in the United States and Canada from New York to California, including an appearance at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin Texas.
Diwansaz exemplifies the power music has to unite people of different faiths and backgrounds.

BAND MEMBERS

Yochai Barak: musical arrangement and direction, saz, baglama
Udi Benknaan: lyre and saz
Eyal Luman: percussion
Amir shahsar: nay and Persian vocals
Lubna salame : Arabic (Christian) vocals
Tzipora EL Rei : Hebrew and Turkish vocals
Rani Lorentz: bass
Muhammad Gadir, aka Hamudi: Nine-year-old Bedouin singer
Mumin Sesler (from Turkey) – master of the oud and the kanun
Rabbi David Menachem: vocalist and master of cantorial – piyutim