Kim’s Facebook Page (Kim Sanders World Music) is http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kim-Sanders-World-Music/131697043563700?sk=wall

Links to Kim on Youtube include:

Kim with Birol Topaloglu at the Gitar Cafe in Istanbul

(When googling ‘gaida’ in Turkish contexts, spell it ‘gayda’ – that’s the Turkish spelling. Sometimes in Macedonia it is spelled ‘gajda’. Or, if you are set up for Cyrillic, use the relevant one)

Kim Sanders and Friends at Chapel by the Sea May 08.

With Persian group Chang-e-Nahid at the 800th anniversary of Persian mystic Rumi. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-Jyt-M8znQPrilepsko Oro on Macedonian gaida http://www.youtube.com/user/kimsandersmusic?blend=3&ob=5Greek song “Yiourgia” on Macedonian gaida http://www.youtube.com/user/kimsandersmusic?blend=3&ob=5#p/u/2/EjI3KQFpyTQMacedonian/Thracian dance paidushko (pajdusko) http://www.youtube.com/user/kimsandersmusic?blend=3&ob=5#p/u/3/OWSoRRygh5s

Resources

* I have a small number of neys, meys and kavals for private sale. Contact me at kimzgaida@hotmail.com

* “Rifat Varol is an excellent “ney-opener” (ney-maker) in Sultanahmet, Istanbul . I have several of his neys. Rifat doesn’t speak English himself but does have a website (in English) which has some very good downloadable samples of ney taksims and useful links. Online ordering available. www.neyneva.com Email: neyneva@neyneva.com

* Another excellent ney maker whose neys I have also used is Hanefi Kirgiz , also in Sultanahmet, Istanbul . He speaks a little English. His website is in Turkish only: www.hanefikirgiz.com Email: info@hanefikirgiz.com

* Mehmet Yucel is also a reputable ney-opener, and has a very good ney site, including downloadable samples, charts (select “nota arsivi” from menu at top of homepage) and ney care hints. http://www.neyzen.com He is in the process of making an English-language version – some pages only at present. My composition Saba Saz Semai is published here.

*  www.neysazi.com(Turkish only) also has a good sheet music archive.

Ahmet Kaya: Ney Metodu

* My ney teacher Neyzen Ahmet Kaya has a new edition of his published a how-to-play-ney book Ney Metodu (in Turkish). Available online from http://www.kitapyurdu.com/kitap/default.asp?id=592706 (website in Turkish only).*

* My kaval teacher Sinan Celik  is the force behind Duygu Muzik, who put out some interesting CDs (not just kaval). They also sell good kavals made by Ali Acar.  Sinan has also written a Kaval Metodu (how-to-play kaval) in Turkish. www.dilsizkaval.com has some instruction videos in Turkish. Email: info@dilsizkaval.com

* Linsey Pollak makes very good gaidas, zurnas etc – but there’s a bit of a waiting-list. He has also published an excellent book of Macedonian tunes he has collected during his travels. It goes from simple tunes in 2/4 right up to 25/8, and isn’t full of mistakes like some “folkloric” publications! He also has a CD Kniga Tservena containing (some of) the tunes in the book. linsey@spiderweb.com.au

Risto Todoroski

* Risto Todoroski  (in Sydney) makes good Macedonian and Bulgarian gaidas, kavals and tapans. http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=310B59B0583F898A Email: sirulsko@gmail.com Tel: 02 9835 4732

Cory Dale of Brisbane also makes good gaidas, kavals and other goodies.  I can recommend him, too.

Ian Mackenzie (of Blackheath, NSW) makes Uillean, Spanish, Highland and Lowland pipes, kavals and other things. He made the chanter for the aardvark. simack_2000@yahoo.com

* Sabahattin Akdagcik is no longer performing, but is still teaching at his music school SASOM in Sydney . Turkish and Arabic folk and classical, vocal and instrumental, all levels. He is an excellent teacher. Tel 0419 707 743

* For CDs of Turkish music, Kalan Muzik is an excellent record company. All kinds of music – excellent archival stuff as well as contemporary. Online ordering. Artists include Birol Topaloglu, Selim Sesler, Osman Aktas, Yansimalar, Engin Arslan. Site is in English and Turkish. Doublemoon also put out some good stuff, mostly contemporary.  Artists include Selim Sesler, Husnu Senlendirici. Beyza Muzik & Yapim also put out some good stuff including recordings by ney master Saddrettin Ozcemi.

Songul Karahasanoglu-Ata

* Songül Karahasanoglu, my mey teacher (and Professor at Turkish Music State Conservatory in Istanbul ) has published a how-to-play-mey book (in Turkish): Mey ve Metodu (Inkilap Kitabevi, Yayin Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.,
Ankara Cad. No 95, Sirkeci 34410, Istanbul . ISBN975-10-1083-7)

Anne Hildyard and Rob Bester (of Xenos) have published Gajda Tunes of Macedonia, a book of gaida tunes they collected in Northern Greece – good stuff. www.xenosmusic.com

www.maqamworld.com Arabic music site in English including introductory explanation of maqam system

* The only book on Arabic music in English I know is Habib Hassan Touma: The Music of the Arabs (New Expanded Edition 1996. Amadeus Press, Reinhard G. Pauly General Editor, Portland, Oregon. ISBN 0-931340-88-8).  I am not an expert on Arabic Classical music – feedback from someone who is would be appreciated.

http://www.duduk.com/ has useful info on duduk.  I can’t personally vouch for their products – feedback, anyone?

* For baglama, oud and other stringed instruments I can recomment Yusuf Toraman of Istanbul, an old friend and master instrument-maker. He made a lot of Arf Sag’s instruments. His website is in Turkish only:  http://www.toramanmuzik.com Adress: Toraman Muzik Evi San Tic. STI., Kucuk Langa Cad. Yuruk Palas No 40/3, Aksaray – Istanbul.  Tel: 0 212 589 5858/530 1616

* I have started using a Turkish music-writing programme called Mus2.  It has capacity to notate Turkish Classical and folk styles as well as other microtonal pieces. It is fairly user-friendly (if you know something about these kinds of music) and isn’t cluttered up by all kinds of features you neither want nor need.  It isn’t perfect – what is? — but they are working on improving it, and, even more importantly, their email support are friendly and helpful. (I am sick of people rushing out programmmes that don’t work properly, and who seem to lose interest in you once you have paid your money.  Case in point: the Desktop version of iTabla, whose manual did not work when I got the programme, and told me they were “too busy” to fix it – or help me with my problems!)

The Mus2 people have also released Mus2okur.  This is a prog which outlines the basics of Turkish music – makam, usul (rhythm) and other elements as well as various archives.  You can, eg, play along with a score displayed on the screen. It has its limitations – the sounds are pitched at theoretical levels, rather than those used by master musicians (so you still need a teacher, I’m afraid!) but certainly extremely useful.

You can download a trial version of both programmes (with limitations on saving etc) from their website www.mus2.com.tr. Price is very reasonable.

*  Music of the World are a new organization putting on World Music concerts and workshops in the Blue Mountains area.

- Kim Sanders

Kim also works with a variety of small ensembles, known collectively as Kim Sanders & Friends. The group can be tailored in size, personnel and repertoire to suit particular events. The friends include:

Bobby Singh

Bobby Singh’s talent was recognised at an early age by Pandit Nikhil Ghosh, and became a student of his senior disciple Aneesh Pradhan, who remains his guru. Bobby is now a “must see” performer on the world music circuit as well as the Indian Classical scene. He has performed with Ashok Roy, Slava Grigoriyan, Joseph Tawadross and many cross-cultural ensembles including Flamenco Dreaming and The Bird. He currently works with Circle of Rhythm and Dha, amongst others.

Bobby Dimitrievski

Australian-born Macedonian clarinettist/saxophonist Blagojce (Bobby) Dimitrevski has degrees from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music but has also learned the old-fashioned way from his father Ivan. He has performed extensively in the Macedonian scene in Australia, with Balkan folk/jazz ensemble Mara! and with Nadya and the 101 Candles Orchestra. He can blister the paint off the walls.

Steve Elphick

Double-bassist Steve Elphick has been for many years regarded as one of Australia’s   most creative improvising musicians. He has made many overseas tours with folk-jazz group Mara! and played with jazz greats including Lee Konitz and Steve Lacey. In Australia he has performed and recorded extensively with cutting-edge improvising bands including The World According to James, The Andrew Robson Trio, Ten Part Invention, Bernie McGann Trio and The Umbrellas.

Llew Kiek

Another Australian World Music pioneer, Llew Kiek (bouzouki, bağlama, guitar, tambura, keyboards) has recorded 10 albums and performed in 20 countries with ARIA-winning folk-jazz group Mara! In Australia he has worked with The Bisserov Sisters, Tenzing Tsewang, Silvia Entcheva, Martenitsa, Nakisa, the Renaissance Players, Meryl Tankard Australian Dance Theatre and singers Jeannie Lewis and Margret RoadKnight. Australian World Music Instrumentalist of the year 1999.

Sandy Evans

Saxophonist, composer and three-time ARIA-winner Sandy Evans is one of Australia’s leading performers in improvised music. She has played and recorded extensively in Australia and overseas the own Sandy Evans Trio, Clarion Fracture Zone, The catholics, austraLYSIS, the Australian Art Orchestra, MARA!, Bernie McGann, Waratah and many visiting American artists. Named Australian Jazz Artist of the Year at the 2003 Bells Awards. She is also heavily involved with Southern Indian Classical music.

George Doukas

Singer, composer and master of the bouzouki, baglama, tzouras and guitar, George Doukas has performed with such Greek luminaries as Sakellariou, Doukissa and Floriniotis as well as a multitude of local Greek artists. He was musical co-director for internationally-screened Concert 2000. In recent years he has has been involved in several exciting collaborations with musicians from a variety cultures, as in his own band Balcano.

Toby Hall

Drummer Toby Hall has played and recorded with outstanding Australian improvisers including Mike Nock, Lloyd Swanton, Bernie McGann, Alister Spence and Sandy Evans as well as leading his own groups. He has also played with many visiting performers including jazz vocal legend Sheila Jordan. Montreal Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, New York’s famous Knitting Factory – Toby’s been there, done that.

Sawung Jabo

Reformed rock star, dancer, singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, choreographer, actor, producer and social activist Sawung Jabo is well-versed in traditional Indonesian music and dance as well as contemporary forms. He is highly respected for the energy, beauty and passion of his words and music. He has released twelve top-selling albums in Indonesia, and performed in Japan, Korea and the US.

Blair Greenberg

Multi-instrumentalist Blair Greenberg has played guitar, steel drums, djembe, didgeridoo, marimba, darabukka and all kinds of percussion (not to mention electric neck) in many countries with Trio Dingo, Epizo Bangoura’s African Express, Muhammad Bangoura, Pape Mbaye, Zulya Kamalova, Christine Anu, The Flying Fruitfly Circus, the Electra String Quartet, Jeannie Lewis and the very strange Paranormal Music Society.

Davood Tabrizi

Davood Tabrizi studied percussion and Persian string instruments at Tehran Conservatorium and the Uni of Tehran before coming to Australia in 1979. He has performed in many pioneering cross-cultural bands including Tansey’s Fancy and Nakisa, toured America with his own group Far Seas, and has written award-winning scores for theatre productions and films including The Navigator and Serenades.

Linda Marr

Singer Linda Marr is one of the world music and a cappella scene’s most respected and talented personalities. Acknowledged as a pioneer in bringing world music to a wider audience in Australia, Linda has appeared on more than 20 CDs and toured extensively in Australia and overseas. A founding member of Musica Linda, Blindman’s Holiday and Keklik Aile, Linda has also performed with Tokakros, Cumana and with Kim in Nakisa.

Tony Lewis

Singapore born percussionist Tony Lewis has collaborated with leading musicians from many cultures, including Aboriginal dancer/musician Matthew Doyle, koto-player Satsuki Odamura, harmonic singer David Hykes and sitarist Raj Kumar Sharma. He has also worked with Southern Crossings, Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre, Nakisa, Waratah and Dhamor Percussion. He has studied and performed in Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

Peter Kennard

Peter Kennard has studied drumming in West Africa and performed overseas with Colin Offord’s Great Bowing Company, the Turkish State Theatre, Stalker Theatre Company, Sirocco andCathie O’Sullivan. In Australia he has played with sarod virtuoso Ashok Roy, Lulo Reinhardt, Moussa Diyakite, the Flying Fruitfly Circus, Chai Chang Ning, Flamenco Dreaming, Heval and Brassov.

Ron Reeves

Percussionist Ron Reeves lived and studied for many years in Indonesia, and specialises in traditional instruments from West Java and South India. In a long and varied career he has played with the Trilok Gurtu, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Nigeria’s Lebe Olarinjo Masqueraders, the Karnataka College of Percussion, Billy Cobham, Hossam Ramzy,  heavy plastic band AC/PVC and with Kim in GengGong and Trio Dingo. He leads Indonesian-based groups Warogus and Earth Music.

Boyd

Enigmatic Kiwi Boyd is the composer of the Martian National Anthem. He also plays  bass and baritone saxophones with intergalactic intensity. He has performed with Mic Conway’s National Junk Band, Jackie Orszcaszki’s Budget Orchestra, Brassov and The Monday Club. The only member of Kim Sanders & Friends weighing less than his instrument, he is a genuine saxophone heavyweight.

Mark Szeto

Hong Kong born Mark Szeto plays double bass and fretless electric bass in a variety of styles. He has performed with Monsieur Camembert, the Sydney Opera House Orchestra and Sydney Chamber Orchestra.  His own band, Low Flying Hippies, released their debut CD Adventure Before Dementia in 2009.

Sam Golding

Multi-instrumentalist Sam Golding (trumpet, tenor horn, trombone,  sousaphone,  flutes, ukelele) performs in many musical settings from Senegalese Mbalax through traditional music from the Balkans, jazz small groups, reggae and cabaret. He is currently working hard with the bands Darth Vegas, The Glorious Sousaphonics, The Fantastic Terrific Munkle, Teranga, Tango Saloon and The Mango Balloon.

Mustafa Karami

Kurdish Iranian Mustafa Karami studied dhaf (traditional frame drum) at Karkars Music College in Tehran and is now recognised as a master of the instrument. He was declared Best Dhaf Player in Iran at the Festival of Dhaf in 2005,6,7. He also sings and plays oud.  Mustafa has performed throughout Iran with ensembles such as Madakto, Javidan, Bamdad and Salmak.  In Australia he has performed with Kim in Davood Tabrizi’s Far Seas.

James Greening

One of Australia’s leading improvising musicians, James Greening has been widely praised for his work on trombone, pocket trumpet, sousaphone and bass with Ten Part Invention, Wanderlust, The catholics, The Umbrellas, The Australian Art Orchestra, Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach, the  Sruthi Laya Ensemble, Matthew Doyle and various strange ensembles led by the late, great Jackie Orszaczky. He leads his own band The World According to James.

“What I wouldn’t give to have friends like these!” – Jaslyn Hall, ABC Limelight Magazine

“In a perfect world, these artists would figure among out national treasures” – Michael Rofe, Weekend Australian

“The music is sometimes mystical…but can also be full of tension and real virtuousity” – Eelco Schilder, Folkworld (UK/Germany)

As well as concert and festival performances, Kim Sanders & Friends are availble for special events, corporate functions, weddings and private parties.