OASIS

Treat yourself to OASIS, Mediterranean inspired music featuring the soulful and sensuous sounds of the duduk, an Armenian wind instrument made from apricot wood, the oud, a stringed instrument like a Middle-Eastern lute, and the violin. Although
he is accomplished on the guitar, piano and many stringed instruments, for OASIS, Michael chose not to play any of the instruments on this CD. Instead, the composed the haunting and hypnotic compositions and assembled a talented cast of world-class musicians to perform them including Yuval Ron on the oud, George Hamad on violin and Norik Manovkian on the duduk. 

FROM THE MUSICIAN:

I grew up in a home surrounded by music.  My parents treasured music and
encouraged us to learn about music from a variety of cultural and ethnic heritages.
For almost as long as I have been playing music, I have been curious about and
interested in non-western musical instruments, particularly acoustic stringed
instruments. The challenge with OASIS was to bring to life the exotic and mystical
sounds of these wonderful instruments, yet still maintain a peaceful and meditative
tempo with soothing instrumentation.   
--- Michael Benghiat, author, musician, composer

REVIEWS:
Inspired by the natural beauty of the magnificent California coastline, multi-
instrumentalist Michael Benghiat created the AT PEACE® series of music albums,
which pair soothing acoustic instrumentation with light, flowing melodies. Featuring
minimalist compositions performed on the violin and oud with a spattering of duduk
beats distributed throughout, the music of OASIS provides listeners with an
atmosphere of peace and mysticism, based on the sounds of the Mediterranean
region. The album includes four extended length tracks totaling one hour of serenity
– perfect for a massage session or healing arts practices in the home.

“ . . .  Evokes the mystery and romance of ancient places  . . . this is definitely
Michael’s musical love letter to an ageless culture and heritage . . .  transports me
to an oasis of peace, calm and relaxation!”
-- Yvette R., Pelham, NY

"I have been playing the new Oasis CD over and over. It's pensive, somehow
nostalgic beauty is just what I want to hear. It almost feels as though the music
connects with and nourishes my heart! People listen to music CDs for many reasons.
Most often, I listen to relax and refresh myself. Oasis is my dream CD."
--Linda Duke, Director of Education, UCLA Hammer Museum, Los Angeles

"I liked the CD, very much!"
--Jordan Elgrably, The Levantine Center, Los Angeles

ABOUT THE MUSICIANS:
Yuval Ron is the oud player and musical director of The Yuval Ron Ensemble,  
dedicated to fostering an understanding of Middle Eastern cultures and religions.
He has done numerous field recordings in the Sinai desert with the Bedouin and he
has composed Internationally for film, TV, contemporary dance, theatre and the
concert stage. He has given lectures and workshops at The Boston Center for the
Arts, MIT, Berkeley College of Music and the Jerusalem Film School and is the
recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Rockefeller
Foundation among others. Yuval is also the host of a world music concert series
“The International Underground” at the UCLA Hammer Museum in Los Angeles.


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