Soundscapes of North Africa to be presented

A soundscape of grooves, jams and traditional songs of the North African and Spanish cultural traditions is the focus of a lunchtime performance by Asefa from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 5, in the Intercultural Center at Skidmore College.

The event is funded through the Jacob Perlow Fund of the Office of the Dean of Special Programs in collaboration with the Office of Jewish Student Life and Interfaith Programming.

Asefa is devoted to contemporary approaches to composition, improvisation, and fusion drawn from Sephardic, North African and jazz traditions.

The performance will feature Samuel R. Thomas, founder of the group, playing woodwinds, vocals and hand percussion; Yoshie Fruchter, on oud, fretless guitar; and Noah Jarrett, on upright bass and guimbri. The musicians will discuss their instruments and explain lyrics of their music during the performance.

Asefa, which is from the Hebrew word for an assembly or collective, was founded in 2001 by Thomas, who is a bandleader and composer, ?to bring together diverse worlds in the spirit of gathering and community.? The music is a blend, honoring both ritual and experimentation, intended as a reminder of the vitality and variety within the Jewish tradition.

?Asefa creates a fresh sound that moves your mind, body and spirit,? Thomas says on the ensemble?s Web site, describing the style as ?alt-country like you?ve never heard,? and ?jazz from unexpected contexts.?