Fri. 11.Oktober

21:00 Fawzi Chekili Taqasim

Fawzi Chekili: ùdgé, guitar, Sascha Otto: saxophone, flute, Oliver Kent: piano, Achim Tang: bass, Patrice Heral: percussion, guest: Dhafer Youssef: oud, vocals

It is very pleasant to listen to the fine work of Fawzi Chekili, both as an excellent guitar player and an interesting composer. He has the ability to combine Arabic folk music and jazz in an exciting way. (Downbeat)

Dhafer Youssef works untiringly to arouse excitement in the Vienna scene for Arabic music and has found willing partners in the free spirits of Otto and Heral. The Tunisian Chekili who, next to the guitar, masterfully plays an instrument which he calls "ùdge´" (a mixture of the "oud" and a 12-string steel guitar), has come to Vienna at Youssef's behest, to introduce -- with his own compositions -- the best-prepared musician to the traditions of a land which people around here have until now only associated with childhood memories of the "1001 Nights". CH

Admission: AS 120,-

24:00 Aerovita

line up t.b.a.

Europeans always think they know exactly what art is and isn't. Such criticisms have never interested Americans, however. The Ten Commandments of Euro-American Billy Wilder mainly proscribe boredom. This accounts for the appearance of such works as "The Jungle Book", "Westside Story", "Some Like It Hot," "Rhapsody In Blue", "Kind Of Blue" and "Purple Rain". So why don't you also re-examine your own strict criteria for art and look for it where you least expect if, namely in details. Vienna is not only the State Opera, the Vienna Festwochen, and the Theater an der Wien; it can also boast of a female vocalist who can keep her intonation over a 3 1/2 octave range (though this may be only a small detail in this cultural marketplace, dominated as it is by high culture). Furthermore, Aerovita pairs her full-timbred singing with extravagant stage presence. The dark-skinned singer, who accompanies herself on piano, appearing here with the support of her Family Clan...Well worth the listen. MR

Admission: ATS 150.-
PORGY & BESS, SPIEGELGASSE 2, 1010 WIEN, TEL: 512 84 38