Local band blends musical genres in lively Odeon Theatre performance

AMMAN — Downtown’s Odeon theatre on Thursday resonated with the catching rhythms of Jordanian Shiraz Band in a two-hour long concert.

The music show, held under the patronage of Tourism Minister Lina Annab, featured the eclectic influences of the four-member Jordanian band led by Mohanned Al Jabi.

Embracing various musical influences, the band’s repertoire is “a fusion between the old and the new”, band manger Tania Sawabini told The Jordan Times on Thursday, adding “we appeal to all tastes and ages with our light and happy style”.

The four musicians first got together in 2014, under the leadership of Mohanned Al Jabi, a noted Nai — type of flute — player. Starting off as a modern Arabic fusion band, blending various musical traditions, the group gradually evolved to play more “trendy” songs by creating its own medleys and remixes, the manager said. 

A subtle blend of Arabic, Spanish and English influences, the songs “play with rhythm and speed”, slowly working themselves into the audience’s artistic consciousness. 

The eclectic mix of styles comes in dynamic contrasts, with the soothing notes of two guitars and a Nai, meddled with the catchy rhythms of percussions and drums. The multinational ensemble is completed with an org and Oud. 

“Our music is a journey into the soul. We always aim to make memories. We work very hard to make our events memorable experiences,” Sawabini stated.

Performing at the Odeon Theatre, a landmark filled with history, “is very important for us”, the band manager said, noting “we are looking forward to bring such a mesmerising historical site to life with our music”.

Mostly performing in their home country Jordan, the musicians are also reaching to the regional markets of Lebanon, Bahrain and the UAE.

“We aspire to represent Jordan in international festivals in the future and, hopefully, play a major role in taking entertainment in Jordan to a new level,” Sawabini said.

The event, free of charge, was preceded by a bazaar at the Roman Amphitheatre standing next to the concert’s venue.