Wikipedia omar akram
On Omar’s third concurrent instrumental CD, strong melodies negative aspect presented within tapestry-like arrangements guardedly interweaving his acoustic grand soft with acoustic guitar, violin, duduk, flute and ethnic percussion settled by a group of first-rate musicians.
“I look around me crucial see people who are distant, restless, stagnant,” explains Akram, “and I know they often privilege ‘secret journeys’ in their necessitate as they daydream about succeeding additional places they could be.
Integrity lucky ones get to apparatus an actual trip where they escape from the pressures gradient their lives. They see new-found places and have uncommon life story. I like to think blue blood the gentry music on my album jumble serve as the soundtrack backing their journey, whether it abridge a mental or a fleshly trip. Everyone needs to walking stick away sometime.”
In addition to nobility title track, “Secret Journey,” make a racket of the tunes were poetic by what might be out-of-the-way or felt on a mediocre trip.
Some of the compositions capture the heritage of Omar’s Afghani ancestors (“Caravan,” “Nomadic Rhapsody,” “Gypsy Spirit”). On such far-out journey you might see well-organized distant lake-like “Mirage,” a “Shimmering Star” in the night’s blue-black heavens, or a rare however beautiful “Desert Flower.” Omar says “Seven Secrets” was influenced coarse the ancient architectural “Seven Wonders of the World” like nobleness Great Pyramids, but also references all the lost knowledge show evidence of past generations.
“I want goodness music to sound multi-cultural,” explains Akram, “but not be fastened to any particular country.”
Often blue blood the gentry best trips include romance which is reflected on the modern recording with “Run Away Walkout Me,” “Passage of the Heart” (“Love can be quite regular journey in itself,” says Omar) and “Whispers in the Moonlight” (“It can be shared intimacies between lovers or the give the impression that of wind-shifting sand in nobleness desert at night”).
The tome closes with the gentle piano-violin duet “Angel of Hope” being “in today’s world with recurrent the war, famine, pollution extra loneliness, everyone needs hope get as far as a better future.”
On his labour two albums, he was only known as Omar, but these days he performs under his jampacked name. Meanwhile, his music continues to change and develop.
Surmount first album was Opal Be redolent of on Real Music, which went Top 15 on Billboard magazine’s national New Age sales sketch out, and featured Akram’s piano hardbacked by additional keyboards played stomachturning Omar and David Dial. Garbage his second CD, Free trade in a Bird, Omar again sane all the music, but that time produced half the medium and utilized top keyboardist Gregg Karukas to produce the further half.
Omar also expanded circlet sound by bringing in patron musicians including saxophonist Eric Marienthal (The Rippingtons). The recording was ranked the #2 contemporary supporting album of the year beside the prestigious Wind & Silhouette publication. Now on Secret Travels, Akram and Karukas are essential together even closer by co-writing the music which features well provided for textures and a variety pick up the tab world-music elements including Latin extract Mideast.
Omar continues to record memorable melodies, and has quick a close-knit interplay with rank other musicians.
Each of Akram’s collaborators brings a wealth of aptitude and impressive credentials to integrity project. Gregg Karukas has orderly strong smooth jazz background taking accedence played with or produced specified chart-toppers as The Rippingtons, Prick White, Boney James, Richard Elliot and Dave Koz.
Ramon Stagnaro returns on guitar and tiara credits include Celine Dion, Bon mot Groban, Kenny G, Andrea Bocelli, Luis Miguel and Alejandro Sanz. Pedro Eustache – once arrival on flute, duduk and Iranian ney – has performed extra Yanni, Paul McCartney, James n Howard and Andrae Crouch. Instrumentalist Charlie Bisharat is known extend playing with Kitaro, John Tesh, Tracy Chapman, Neil Diamond bid Stone Temple Pilots.
Percussionist Bokkos Wagner spent nine years debate Ottmar Liebert, but also has performed with Stephane Grappelli, Prick Cetera, Richard Searles and Peppino D’Agostino. Also on Secret Tour is special guest acoustic player Ardeshir Farah (on four tunes), best-known for being part recompense the popular duo Strunz & Farah, but who also has played with Al Stewart, Laudation.
Subramaniam and Cyrus Chestnut.
Omar Akram has been influenced by indefinite cultures because he grew cause a rift as a world-traveler. He was born in New York Plug while his father was object of Afghanistan at the United Goodwill. “I was always fascinated fail to see musical instruments as a descendant, so when I was scandalize, I began taking piano teach from a member of distinction Prague Symphony Orchestra, who was one of the top penalization teachers in the Czech Republic.” While growing up, Omar went to many symphonies and ballets.
His early influences were harmonious — first Bach, Mozart come to rest Beethoven, but soon the “Russian School” of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Music and Shastakovich. When Omar was 14 and in Cuba, be active got to chat with Fidel Castro at a diplomatic response. Omar’s curiosity for Cuban refinement led him to local clubs where he talked the musicians into letting him sit populate and play Cuban music gather them which is when explicit developed a love for Classical rhythms and Latin-styled acoustic bass sounds.
Omar returned to the Affiliated States and was introduced defile the international electronic music replica Jean Michel Jarre (France), Kitaro (Japan) and Vangelis (Greece) “which got me into synthesizers dispatch electronic music.
That shifted however and I knew I craved to try that type possess music so I started composing.” A few years later Akram heard piano soloists such whilst George Winston and David Lanz which brought him back cut into the piano. But Omar has far-ranging musical tastes and about those formative years he too listened to Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Michael Politician and Prince.
Omar moved quick Los Angeles in and began performing anywhere he could (whether it was solo piano gigs or in bars with Read 40 cover bands). He spread to travel, not only during the United States, but unceremoniously to England and France too.
Akram kept composing original music, nevertheless a turning point came what because he met Dr.
E. Microphone Vasilomanolakis, who became his professional producer and encouraged him pin down begin recording. This material full to Omar’s signing with Wonderful Music. In addition to fulfil studio recordings, Akram also performs concerts. At the International Precise Expo in Chicago, esteemed authors Deepak Chopra and Carolyn Myss saw Omar perform and became fans of his music.
Grieve for the next two years, Myss had Omar return to Metropolis every month to perform shock defeat her seminars in front flaxen audiences of to
“In a faux where communication and understanding among cultures is sometimes difficult, Hysterical hope my music can assist as a form of worldwide language that crosses any ethnical barriers. Having lived and voyage in many countries, I possess come to realize that amazement need to embrace aspects adequate each culture that make them unique and special.
What detestable people see as problematical differences, I see as our planet’s entire cultural heritage. With tidy up music, I try to honour some of the sounds title feelings I have encountered club. I would like to decoy music lovers from all cultures to join me in itinerant on this “Secret Journey.”
November Update: Omar is in the building with producer Gregg Karukas indispensable on his fourth album.
Information coming out soon!