US Tour: Holiday Tunes with a Tuvan Twist

The Tuvan throat singing ensemble Alash is featured on the new CD by the celebrated bluegrass/fusion/jazz band Béla Fleck & the Flecktones, Jingle All the Way, scheduled for release in September. Alash will perform live with the Flecktones on their promotional tour this December.

This is not the first time the Flecktones have incorporated Tuvan throat singing into their music. Two of their earlier albums, Outbound and Live at the Quick, feature master throat singer Kongar-ool Ondar (now artistic director of Alash). Alash also enjoys collaborating across genres. They have joined forces with such diverse groups as the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Sun Ra Arkestra.

The Alash musicians, while adventurous, possess a deep commitment to traditional Tuvan music. They participate annually in the Üstüü-Xüree International Music Festival in Chadaan, Tuva, to raise funds to repair the Üstüü-Xüree Buddhist Temple. At this year’s festival, Alash members swept the top awards for individual throat singers. Bady-Dorzhu Ondar won the grand prize and was given a car. Ayan-ool Sam took first prize, and Ayan Shirizhik took second. Last year, Bady-Dorzhu Ondar became the youngest person ever to be awarded the title “People’s Xöömeizhi” (Throat Singer), the highest honor accorded to a Tuvan throat singer.

Alash’s interpreter and manager, American-born Sean Quirk, also has distinguished himself this year. In recognition of his passionate support and promotion of Tuvan music and culture, Quirk was honored at Naadym, a traditional Tuvan festival that features wrestling, horse racing, and archery, as well as music and other arts. He was named “Merited Artist of Tuva” and given a medal by Sholban Kara-ool, head of the Tuvan government.

Alash will return to the U.S. for their fourth American tour in November and December of 2008. They will perform in Texas , the Midwest , and the East Coast, and they will join the Flecktones on stage on December 5, 6, 12, and 13. See www.alashensemble.com/performances.htm for the Alash tour schedule, and www.flecktones.com/site.php?content=tour for the Flecktones’ schedule.

Source http://www.alashensemble.com