YOW Jazz May 27: Jazz at the borderlands - an interview with Amanda Ekery on the Syrian-Mexican experience in El Paso
Amanda Ekery has a new album, Árabe, that explores the experience of the Syrian-Mexican community in the Texan border city of El Paso
On the show this week I feature my conversation with Amanda Ekery, a native of El Paso, about her new project. Over a five-year period, she researched the experience of Syrians who came to El Paso, Texas via Mexico - including members of her own family. Her new album, Árabe, tells the stories that she uncovered. On the show, she also talks a bit about the background of two of the songs - “Three Days” and “La Cucaracha”.
The album is accompanied by a book of essays by Amanda that recount the history of the Syrian-Mexican community, as well as the back story for each song.
Árabe is my examination of these roots. Every bud, branch, absorption, and internal tissue that has grown up, out, around, and through who and where I am today. Perhaps some of my embarrassment sharing my background when I was younger came from me not knowing much of the history on either side, knowing surface level things like food and dances, but not the faces, history, or the why and how things came to be.
On the album, she is accompanied by:
Andrew Boudreau: Piano, Felt Piano, and Accordion
Emily Johnson-Erday: Mandolin
Jhoely Garay: Guitar
Hannah Marks: Bass
Jess Tsang: Percussion
Here she is singing with a chamber ensemble in 2017.
For the rest of the show I will be featuring new releases, including from jazz vocalists Kandace Springs, Eugenie Jones and Jackie Myers. I will also feature a track from the new self-titled release of Canadian Gillian Margot with pianist Geoffrey Keezer. They have played as a duet for quite a few years. Here they are in 2018.
Ottawa jazz guitarist Tim Bedner is continuing with his guitar duo series in June and July at GigSpace. We will hear a short piece from his 2012 release, Of Light and Shadow. Here is Tim Bedner at GigSpace with Edra Silva from 2023.
You can listen live on Tuesday at 11 a.m. in the National Capital Region at 93.1 FM or through live streaming at CKCUFM.com. The show is also available for streaming on demand.