“Magical” were some of the comments I heard as I left the performance at the UW World Series at Meany Hall, and it was also my thought while I watched these 4 musicians–2 from Israel, 2 from Mali–combine their genius to create one-of-a-kind music.  “Full of surprises” also characterizes their music–with the unexpected and rhythmic beats played on a Calabash and the ingenious keyboardist (Idan Raichel) weaving the piano notes with the phrasing of the guitar playing by Vieux Farka Toure.

Idan manipulated the piano strings, tapped his foot, and found novel ways with amazing fluidity to make the piano sing in harmony with the other musicians.

The musicians don’t speak the same native language, they come from vastly different cultures, and their countries don’t have diplomatic relations with each other, and here they are coming together to create masterful sound that moved a sold-out audience. Those who fight and kill others of different faiths and countries: take note.

(I was unable to photograph the masterful player of the Calabesh Souleymane Kane.)