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Adam Matta

Adam Matta is a beatboxer and vocal performance artist from New York City. His style fuses elements of hip-hop, rock electronic, jazz, contemporary and Middle Eastern influences.

Matta has had solo shows at Joe's Pub, the New Museum for Contemporary Art, Galapagos, PS 122, La Mama Etc. and Here Arts Center. He has been Artist in Residence at Cornell University, Here Arts Center, the Gertrude Stein Repertory Theater's Digital Performance Institute and LEMUR (League of Electronic Musical Urban Robots).

Matta collaborates with numerous artists, including tabla master and producer Karsh Kale, circus composer Sxip Shirey, avant-garde guitarist Eyal Maoz, poet/playwright Reg E Gaines, cellist Noah Hoffeld, new music composer Bora Yoon and multi-instrumentalist Michael Leonhart of Steely Dan.

Fawzia Afzal-Khan
Fawzia Afzal-Khan is a professor of English at Montclair State University, New Jersey. Her most recent books include "A Critical Stage: The Role of Secular Alternative Theatre in Pakistan" and the best-selling edited collection, "Shattering the Stereotypes: Muslim Women Speak Out". Her memoir, "Growing Up With Girlfriends Pakistani-Style", will be published by Syracuse University Press in spring 2010. Afzal-Khan is the author of many articles on Pakistani Politics and Islamization published regularly in Counterpunch, and speaks regularly at national and international conferences.

Afzal-Khan is a trained vocalist in the North Indian Classical tradition, and also performs fusion with jazz musicians, while writing poetry and performing with the experimental theater collective Compagnie Faim de Siecle. Afzal-Khan is a Contributing Editor to The Drama Review and is guest editing a special issue on Pakistani politics and performance.

Nihan Devecioglu
Nihan Devecioglu is from Istanbul, Turkey, and is a trained concert and opera singer. She sings both Eastern and Western style music and is involved with different techniques and modes of vocal improvisation.

Devecioglu received her bachelor’s degree in communications from Bilgi University and her master’s degree in music management from Istanbul Technical University. Since 2003, Devecioglu has studied Western classical singing with Gudrun Volkert and Hannelore Leiffolts of the University Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. Nihan has also explored alternative vocal techniques through intensive studies in improvisation with Lisa Sokolov (New York) and the Turkish Sufi musical repertoire with Muhammed Egbhal (Salzburg).

Her studies have been supported by the City of Salzburg Cultural Fund and the Kurt and Felicitas-Vössing Foundation. Devecioglu has performed as a soloist in the operas Le Chinese by C.W. Gluck and Lady Ligea by Hüseyin Evirgen, both in Salzburg. In one particular career highlight, Devecioglu performed as the soloist for a project with Bobby McFerrin in summer 2008 at Carnegie Hall. In one particular career highlight, Devecioglu performed as the soloist for a project with Bobby McFerrin in summer 2008 at Carnegie Hall. Devecioglu has given several solo concerts throughout Europe, presenting music from classical European and traditional Turkish folk as well as Sufi genres.

Noah Hoffeld
Noah Hoffeld is a composer, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist living in New York City. While classically trained, Hoffeld now performs pop, improvised and spiritual music. Hoffeld currently focuses on film scores, assembling textures of instrumental and vocal thread, and honing his cello skills.

Remi Kanazi
Remi Kanazi is a Palestinian-American poet and writer based in New York City. He is the editor of the recently released "Poets For Palestine", a collection of poetry, spoken word, hip hop, and art. His political commentary has been featured in print and online media worldwide. He is also a frequent guest on various radio and television stations, including Al Jazeera English, BBC radio, GRITTv with Laura Flanders, and WBAI.

Eyal Maoz
Eyal Maoz is a guitarist, ensemble leader, solo performer and composer. He currently leads numerous original music ensembles, including Edom, Crazy Slavic Band. Moaz also co-leads the Maoz-Sirkis Duet as well as Hypercolor and Manganon. He is signed with Tzadik Records and is a guest member of John Zorn’s Cobra. Moaz has performed together with his ensemble at major music festivals worldwide, including the Montreal Jazz Festival, Red Sea International Jazz Festival, NYC 2007 Winter JazzFest, Brooklyn BAM Next Festival, Verizon Jazz Festival, the New York Jewish Music and Heritage Festival, Florida Music Harvest, The Jewzapalooza Festival and more. Maoz has been featured on MTV and NPR.

Kenny Muhammad The Human Orchestra
Kenny Muhammad (The Human Orchestra) defines the human body as the first instrument. Through an awesome manipulation of his own body, Kenny summons Afro Cuban, Jazz, Rock, Reggae, Salsa, House, Techno, Jungle, Drum & Bass, Trance, and Hip Hop rhythms.

The Human Orchestra has performed across Africa, Japan, Europe, and throughout the United States. He has developed a worldwide fan base, captivating thousands and sharing the stage with musical acts that include Public Enemy, Mindless Self Indulgence, Matisyahu, Squarepusher, The X-ecutioners, Regina Bell, The Gap Band, Maxwell, Angie Stone, Stevie Wonder, Vernon Reid, and Take 6, just to name a few.

In addition to his work with Hip Hop, R&B, and Jazz artists, Muhammad has performed with the New York Symphony Orchestra (conducted by David Eaton), and The King Sey Jung Hall in Seoul Korea with violinist Eugene Park.

Video: Matta and Muhammad Bring the Beat

In this exclusive footage, Adam Matta and Kenny Muhammad The Human Orchestra give a sample of their beatbox mastery, and a taste of what lies ahead for their performance as part of Muslim Voices at BAMcafe, Saturday June 13th at 9:30 pm.