Wednesday Night at Lincoln Center: Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival presents the New York debut of The Alaev Family at Damrosch Park

Tonight we were in Damrosch Park to see The Alaev Family, making their New York debut at the Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival, and rocking the plaza with their Bukharan groove music and the sounds of their native Tajikistan.

Three generations of Alaevs, fronted by the patriarch Allo Alaev, master of percussion; two of his sons; and four of his grandchildren - all now based in Israel - play uptempo, groove-centric jams by using hand-held doyra drums, Turkish clarinet, and violin lines heard in traditional European classical. The eight-member outfit is also heavy on worship-centric, call and response-type vocals and curious time signatures. And it's all exciting to listen to.

It was a very exuberant show (thanks to the Consulate General of Iarael for providing funding) and the crowd enjoyed it immensely from the moment four members of the family came onstage with their doyra drums: The band's website has this bio note:

Allo Alaev, a great master of percussion, took up the Doyra (a frame drum with metal rings inside), at an early age. He made rapid progress and was soon appointed the first percussionist of the folk Opera Company of the Tajikistan capital Dushanbe where he toured and performed for 50 years.

Allo Alaev composes pieces for percussion, manages playing on up to 9 drums at the time and has forwarded this dance- percussion virtuosity to his children and grand children.

The entire Alaev family emigrated to Israel in 1991. Allo accomplished to continue the tradition in the family and has made this ensemble well known to all Israeli families, by numerous TV programs and continuous concerts in Israel and abroad.

An ensemble of three generations of virtuosos perform together on stage and create a happy feast of colors and music, where rhythms are dominant. The presence of the younger generation makes this a true cross over from the old to the new. Today, the multi talented ensemble includes Allo Alaev’s two sons, Ariel and Amin and his grandchildren Zvika, Allen, Amir and Aviva. (Ages between 79-15)

The Alaev Family plays: Doyra –Bukharian Frame Drum, Darbukka ,Alofon- percussion, Cajon Turkish Clarinet Garmon –Accordeon , Bayan ( Russian accordion ) Violin Bucharian horn Duduk- Armenian horn instrument Bass- by Yonathan Levy ( Izabo) Music production – Tamir Muskat

We are grateful we got to hear their music tonight and are only sorry we could not stay to see the great Indian violinist L. Subramaniam and his Global Fusion show.