Hajira ~ ''The Voice Everyone Understands''

About Don Baragiano - Hejira Music - Seattle, WA 3 3 2005 1 01 35 PM

Music – Earthy…with a Beat…A World Music Experience...
Hejira (hedge-ear-a) ~

Dedicated to Building Bridges Between Cultures Through Music...

"Other bands play songs - we create music"

Music from Hejira ~ Listen to Free Samplers:

• Hejira
• Moroccan Roll
• La Bastringue

Original musical compositions by Don Baragiano with imaginative lyrics by Danick Isabelle Jawer create a unique blend of fiery, joyful, enticing World Jazz music.
"We are more alike than we are different" is their message and is reflected in the shared thoughts, feelings and spirit common to all cultures, Worldwide.
The skillful musical artistry of Hejira delivers strong tribal World beats, fiery guitar, passionate violin and sensual vocals. Hejira's driving rhythms and exotic, enticing melodies use a blend of Middle Eastern beats, ethnic styles, jazz, blues and even rock to inspire the imagination and make your body want to move.
An experienced troupe of talented belly dancers captivate the audience with their spirited dancing in traditional festive costumes.

Instrumentation: guitar, bass, violin, keyboards, percussion, balalaika, digital guitar and more.
Hejira connects people with the spirit of sound at festivals, concerts, parties, fairs, conferences, schools, company events and other gatherings.

Concert Set List

1. Zaar Cleansing: Original composition by Don Baragiano with lyrics by Danick Isabelle Jawer inspired by the Sufi poet Rumi. Our American culture is only 250 years old… Egyptian civilization started in approx 5k BC. This Egyptian ZAAR rhythm is a dance performed to drive away evil spirits.
2. Garoon: A traditional Armenian belly dance piece with lyrics in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Turkish and Russian!
3. Malfoof Joel: An original composition by violonist Joel Gamble based on the Middle Eastern Malfoof rhythm.
4. Moroccan Roll: Original composition by Don Baragiano. This song's intention is to blend Western rock with Middle Eastern rhythms & scales. It answers the age-old question: what would it sound like if we gave a Marshall stack and a Stratocaster to an oud-playing, goat tending, mountain dwelling, Middle Eastern shepherd.
5. Al-Hambra: Original composition by Don with English and French lyrics by Danick. One cannot discuss Muslim Spain without referring to the famous Al-Hambra Palace in Granada, Spain. Moorish influences, and flamenco,too.
6. Hejira: Original composition by Don with English lyrics by Danick. Hejira means: 1, starting off on a new path or direction, 2, a flight or journey to a more pleasant or desirable place. Inspired by the 2 years Don lived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He’d hear the minarets blasting out prayer call five times a day in their Arab minor scale.
7. Night in Budapest: Original composition by Don with French and English lyrics by Danick; A reminiscence of a past life in Eastern Europe.
8. 9/8 Karshlama: A traditional Turkish 9/8 rhythm that inspired our own melody and arrangement.
9. Katushka: A traditional Russian tune sung in Russian by Danick. The Russian Air Force in WW1 christened their bombs Katushka and would sing this song while bombing the Germans.
10. La Bastringue: A French-Canadian fiddle piece about a young lady in a village who dances all the men into exhaustion.
11. Under a Crescent Moon: Original composition by Don with English lyrics by Danick. This tune mixes Middle Eastern rhythms, open guitar chords and even 4/4 and 6/8 tempos.
12. Brazilian Breeze: Original composition by Don, French and English lyrics by Danick.
13. Love Is A Miracle: Original composition by Don with English and French lyrics by Danick. Lyrics to be available soon!

Don Baragiano ~ Guitar, bass & digital guitar
Hejira's founder, leader and principle composer. Don studied guitar at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, lived 2 years in Saudi Arabia studying the culture and music of the Middle East, and has played at many World Music Festivals.
Don Baragiano's eclectic style exhibits elements of Classical, Jazz, Blues, Middle Eastern, World, Fusion, Rock & Flamenco.
Don studied Classical/Jazz guitar at the University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music & Northern Kentucky University.
He lived in Saudi Arabia for 2 years, and during that time was granted a private audience with their top musician, Hamzah Mohammed Al Bashir.
He has opened for John Hartford and Patty Larkin at BlissFest in U.P. Michigan, and the Klezmatics at Birmingham, AL City Stages' World Stage. He has also performed with the Folkvoice band at Seattle's NW FOLKLIFE Festival.
An accomplished musician, Don plays:

• Acoustic/Electric Guitars
• Balalaika
• Oud
• Bass
• Roland Digital Guitar Synthesizer