The second concert of the season will invoke the series’ international mission in a journey to the Middle East with Israeli/Iranian pop singer, Liraz, who will be accompanied by several members of NYC’s celebrated retro Ethiopian jazz collective, Anbessa Orchestra: Meitar Forkosh (violin), Dor Heled (keyboard), Ran Livneh (bass), Eran Fink (drums) and Navdad Livneh (guitar). Liraz, who is of Sephardic Jewish descent, worked on her latest album, Zan (Glitterbeat Records), under challenging conditions. To produce it, she was in covert correspondence with Iranian musicians whose recordings were smuggled out of the country and then added to her vocals, which were recorded in the Persian language of Farsi. Zan is Persian for women, and this album pays tribute to the women of Iran. All of the collaborators had to remain anonymous, according to Liraz, “These musicians are my brothers and sisters, but our countries are enemies. If they were caught, they would be jailed,” she explained to Songlines Magazine, the world’s premier global music publication, which bestowed its coveted Best Artist Award on Liraz in 2021.

 

Liraz initially found fame as an actress, but in Los Angeles rediscovered her Iranian roots, immersed herself in the music and decided she would sing in Farsi.

 

Here’s a taste of Zan:  https://www.songlines.co.uk/awards/2021/liraz-best-artist-award-winner

 

Palestinian Kanun virtuoso, Firas Zreik, will set the stage as the evening’s special guest.

Firas Zreik: www.firaszreik.com

 

 

A variety of food and beverages will be available for purchase at all shows.

 

Michele’s Charcoal Pit returns to serve hungry Music Haven fans in 2021. And, as has become tradition, international and specialty offerings that reflect spirit of the concert and/or the locales from which the artists come, will be promoted in advance of each show.

 

Wine and local craft beverages from Wolf Hollow Brewing Company and Nine Pin Cider will be available. And Ben & Jerry’s will scoop premium ice cream.

 

In the case of inclement weather, Proctors remains the official rain site for The Music Haven Concert Series.

 

For biographical information about the artists scheduled to perform, related news articles and archives of seasons past, visit  Music Haven’s website, www.musichavenstage.org.

 

For updates and new details about upcoming shows—including weather calls—or to offer comments about your experiences at Music Haven, visit Music Haven Concert Series on Facebook. Patrons can follow the series on Twitter @MusicHavenStage, or call our contact line, 518.660.0675.

 

The Agnes Macdonald Music Haven is family-friendly, easily accessible and has been oft-voted the “Best Outdoor Concert Venue” in the Capital Region.

 

The Schenectady Foundation and Price Chopper/Market 32 remain the Co-presenting Sponsors for the Music Haven Concert Series.

 

Concert sponsors include:

Freihofer’s, The Salmon Law Firm, CDTA, DeCrescente Distributing Co., The Jewish Federation of NENY, Spectrum Reach, The Galesi Group, Schenectady County Initiative Program, Fenimore Asset Management/FAM Funds, Spectrum Reach, Benchemark Printing and Pepsi Cola.

 

Media Sponsors are:

CBS6, The Daily Gazette, Nippertown, WEXT 97.7