The Brothers of the Baladi have adapted Middle Eastern music, American Rock ‘n’ Roll and styles from other cultures to create a new hybrid of World Music.  The band mixes traditional songs, exotic rhythms and acoustic instruments from the Middle East with western instrumentation, familiar grooves and vocals in seven languages (Arabic, Turkish, Farsi, Spanish, French, Armenian and English) to create unique and highly rhythmic dance music. The Brothers have been blazing trails in World Music for over three decades; playing both traditional music and bridging cultures from the Middle East to International Rock n’ Roll.

“ A sound that knows no borders” LA Times

 

The Brothers of the Baladi began their career in 1975 backing up belly dancers in Yuma, Arizona.  Founder/drummer/vocalist, Michael Beach was there teaching elementary school.  The Middle Eastern music he heard from Belly Dance records changed his life. In 1978 Beach relocated to Oregon where he teamed up with the late Joseph Pusey.  The duo was influenced by bands like Kaleidoscope, Spirit, Jimi Hendrix, Sirocco, The Incredible String Band and a variety of Middle Eastern artists.  In 1989 Michael Kearsey added his bass and vocals to their global sound. 

In 1992 Michael Beach released Basic Middle Eastern Rhythms, the first instructional video of Middle Eastern Drums marketed in America.  Beach continues to be a very popular clinician, teaching Middle Eastern / World Music Rhythm Workshops.

 

Their 1995 CD, Eye on the World, was produced by Santana drummer, Michael Shrieve.  It includes the Brothers’ inimitable version of The Rolling Stones’ “ Paint it Black “ as heard on NPR Radio.  

Their newest 2008 CD, Just Do What’s Right, features Baladized versions of Buffalo Springfield’s “ For What it’s Worth,” Neil Young’s “ Rockin in the Free World “ and Chris Rhea’s “ Nothing to Fear.”   This disc also includes six politically charged Middle Eastern / Rock originals in addition to arrangements of classic Arabic, Persian, Spanish and North African songs. The Brothers of the Baladi now have 11 CDs distributed by Allegro Media in North America and they average over 6,000 downloads per month.  The band’s music has been featured recently on TV’s Lost and Sexual Healing, XM and NPR radio and Thom Hartmann’s Air America programs. Their credits include featured music in Jesus in Egypt  (a documentary premiered in Cairo in 2006), soundtracks for the Tony Award winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Midsummer Night’s Dream and Comedy of Errors, live theatre for Portland Theater’s Kismet and Insight Out’s One, featured music for Quest for Immortality – Treasures of Ancient Egypt and soundtracks for over fifty Middle Eastern belly dance videos.

 

They have shared the stage with Maria Muldaur, It’s a Beautiful Day, The Mamas and the Papas, 3 Mustaphas 3, Leon Redbone, Paul Horn, The Lovemongers (Heart), Poi Dog Pondering and Zachary Richard, to name a few. The Brothers have headlined a zillion colleges, festivals, concert halls, and clubs.

 

The current lineup includes Beach fronting the band on doumbek / Arabic tabla, riq, def, mizmar, midjwiz and lead vocals, Kearsey on vocals and bass guitar, Geoff George on GEM Arabic keyboards, Mark Giles on drum kit and Kerry Movassagh on saz and guitars. 

 

Whether they are teaching music workshops, providing sound tracks for movies and TV shows, recording new CDs or headlining and rocking out music festivals around the globe, Michael Beach and his Brothers of the Baladi continue to embrace the true meaning of World Music. 

 

 “Infectiously danceable – will lure congregates to the floor, seats of chairs and even table tops!”   Artvoice, Buffalo, NY.