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Qais Essar
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United States
 
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Photo by: Qais Essar
Photo by: Qais Essar
Photo by: Qais Essar
ABOUT
Qais Essar, an international artist, composer, producer, and experienced live performer, carries on the traditional legacy of classical Afghan instrumentation, as established by Ustad Mohammad Omar Khan. A student of not only both classical and traditional forms (currently under the tutelage of Ustad Aashish Khan) but also Western music, Essar is able to present the Rabab with a fresh new perspective. Essar has collaborated with many prominent artists and masters, covering the musical spectrum, performing domestically and internationally. With the premiere of "The Green Language" (his new album on July 29, 2014), Essar transports listeners through a sonic time portal from the ancient Hindu Kush to the modern era. With his first EP, "Zima Afghanistan 2012," Essar aimed to bring the three-thousand-year-old rabab into the twenty-first century while replacing negative views of Afghan culture with something beautiful. With "Transmutation," Essar sets his sights on bringing Afghan traditional sounds into the global music frontier, presenting a more modern, sensual, and hungry take on performing rabab for a world audience than we have ever heard before.
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