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SALAAM, INSAF-NY, SAMAR Magazine and Breakthrough
present
A Concert for Peace in South Asia
with proceeds to benefit Gujarat victims

Featuring
India's top band, INDIAN OCEAN
Indo-rock fusion with Jazz-spiced rhythms
Transcend boundaries with music that integrates Sufism, Shlokas, environmentalism, mythology and revolution
http://www.indianoceanmusic.com

PLUS special guests

Jazz/World Musician, REZ ABBASI
http://www.reztone.com
with Sunny Jain on drums
http://www.jainsounds.com
Marc Mommaas on saxophones
and John Hebert on bass

Vocalist, RIZWAN MIRZA

Theater for the New City
155 First Avenue (between East 9th and 10th Streets)
East Village, Manhattan, NYC

Tickets: $35, $20, and $15 (w/ student id)
Available at http://www.ersvp.com/reply/indianoceanny
(with a $3 surcharge) or
by calling (212) 531-4935

Proceeds will be donated to Citizens Initiative and Al-Ameen Lok-Hit Charitable Trust for relief of the victims of communal  violence in Gujarat, India.

The Official After-Party where you can chill out with all the musicians and others is just steps away from Theater for the New City on the super trendy and super buzzing Avenue A (and if you can't make the concert, you're still invited to the after-party):
Opaline
85 Avenue A (between 5th/6th Streets)
East Village, NYC
11PM onwards - $10 cover
DJ Rekha will be doing a special set

About the artists:
Indian Ocean is a one of a kind Indo-Rock fusion band from India.  They were at Edinburg Festival of Performing Arts in UK in August 2001, where they were 'Pick of the Festival': "The uniqueness of Indian Ocean lies in their ability to recognize and appreciate music regardless of the boundaries of culture. The roots of their music originate from influences as diverse as traditional Indian ragas, rock, reggae and folk, jazz and pop. What they create is quite simply put 'music for the soul'. The group comprises of four members: Susmit Sen (guitar and vocals), Asheem Chakravarty (percussion and vocals), Rahul Ram (bass guitar and vocals), Amit Kilam (percussion and vocals).  They had been together for almost a decade before they found enormous success with their album Desert Rain, a blend of Indian and Western contemporary music. They have been hailed as the most innovative and exciting band in India today. Their third and latest release Kandisa is an intricately woven compilation with selected lyrics in Hindi, Kashmiri, Bengali, Aramaic and Bhilali. It has received many accolades including a five-star rating from the Times of India."

Pakistani born, California raised and a New Yorker for the past 14 years, Rez Abbasi is considered to be one of the foremost modern jazz guitar players.  With three CD's to his name and performances around the world, Rez has developed a unique sound. Critic Bill Milkowski (Pulse, Down Beat) has written, "His unpredictable phrasing and accomplished writing are what sets him apart from hordes of other technically adept guitarists."  Rez's recent re-discovery of Indian and Pakistani music should place him even further into his own, revitalizing Jazz and world music. Check out his latest CD "Out Of Body" on www.reztone.com

Born and raised in Rochester, NY, drummer Sunny Jain's unique sound is filled with subtlety, energy and versatility, reflecting a talent wise beyond his ears.  He has toured Europe, Japan, Canada and the United States extensively and has performed with Kenny Barron, Seamus Blake, Kermit Driscoll, and Martha Wainwright.  He is also a 2002 U.S. Department of State Jazz Ambassador and will tour Africa with a jazz trio with this honor.  Recently, the Sunny Jain Collective released their debut album, AS IS, for NCM East Records (Also featuring guitarist Rez Abbasi).  Combining Jazz and Indian music, SJC is planning a tour in India for late 2003.  To find out more about Sunny Jain log onto www.jainsounds.com.

Rizwan Mirza is a vocalist/guitarist who writes world music with roots in Hindustani classical and Western popular traditions.  With a strong background in musical theatre, Rizwan can be seen this July and August in Blunt Theatre's production of the legendary Steven Schwartz musical "Godspell" in New York City.  He will also be recording his Hindi album "AutoRicksha-Matic" later this year in Delhi and previewing "Zaika" his own musical revolving around South Asians in New York.

Organized by:
SALAAM (South Asian League of Artists in AMerica)
INSAF NY (International South Asia Forum NY)
SAMAR Magazine
Breakthrough

Co-Sponsors:
Asia Pacific Forum
Manavi
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SALAAM is a not-for-profit professional theatre company celebrating South Asian American artistic excellence through creative risk-taking and experimentation that challenges all boundaries, connects all peoples and links all the arts.

Geeta Citygirl, Artistic Director
SALAAM  (South Asian League of Artists in AMerica)
http://www.SALAAMtheatre.org