oud

Kabuli Zumbi

Originally recorded as a live duet with Derek on oud and Javad Butah on tabla by Hussain Jiffry at his studio in Tarzana, CA on 2014-05-02. Brazilian percussion parts were overdubbed by Derek in Goleta, CA on 2014-09-22.

River Reflection

Originally recorded as a live improvisation with Robert Kyle on flute, Derek Wright on oud, and Nininho on elú (a hand drum from Pernambuco, Brazil) in Los Angeles, CA on 2012-09-16. The raw take was nearly 15:20 in total duration. Derek edited this down to 6:53 (including harvesting the out-of-time oud introduction for a future release), composed the Pernambucano percussion arrangement (based on various versions of ijexá/afoxé combined with elements of maracatu bate livre).

Soorch Bar

This is a traditional melody from Armenia that Derek first heard on the album Near Eastern Ride (Amazon, iTunes) by Ara Topouzian. It's listed there as "Soorch Bar", the name of the dance that goes with it (literally "coffee dance"). This is also the term that some people use for the 10/8 rhythm (3+2+2+3) the song is in (more commonly known as "jurjuna" or "curcuna").

Funk for Dr. J

Composed by Robert Kyle (Kyletone Music - ASCAP) for the CC Project (the trio of Robert, Derek and Javad) for some house concerts at The Alchemy Castle in Hollywood, CA in the spring of 2014.

Recorded as a live trio by Hussain Jiffry at his studio in Tarzana, CA on 2014-05-02.

Oxóssi in Ferguson

Originally recorded by David Bergeaud on 2014-03-05 in Topanga, CA as a live improvisation with Derek on oud and David on tongue drum. The raw track was 7:45 long. Derek edited that down to 6:38, arranged all the Pernambucano percussion parts (mostly maracatú and afoxé), and overdubbed those on 2014-11-19 at the Alchemy Castle in Hollywood, CA.

Collective Joy

Original composition by Derek Wright, created in Topanga, CA with David Bergeaud on 2014-01-29.

Recorded as a live trio (oud, tabla, flute) by Hussain Jiffry at his studio in Tarzana, CA on 2014-05-02.

The cümbüş bağlama saz track was recorded by Derek Wright in Seattle, WA on 2014-07-19.

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About

Multi-instrumentalist: oud, saz, Brazilian percussion (maracatú, other rhythms from Pernambuco, various forms of samba), body music, bass, Middle Eastern percussion, and more. 10 years studying North Indian classical music on the oud and voice interwoven with 15 years studying Brazilian music and dance (including 5 trips to Brazil for a total of 1 year of training) have given Derek a unique approach to music, rhythm, dance accompaniment, improvisation, movement, teaching, and life.

Derek is available for performances, dance collaborations, recording sessions, teaching, licensing, live accompaniment (films, plays, classes, etc), acting, and many other creative possibilities. He is also a certified practitioner and instructor of BREEMA (a bodywork method bringing body and mind together in harmony) and incorporates embodied mindfulness into his teaching and playing.

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