Summer Nights

Two heads are better than one. Or in this case 4 really awesome performers in one night are better than one. Yeah something like that.

Tonight at the Levitt Pavillion in Pasadena, CA, the Taal Dance Company will be performing alongside some of the biggest names in the biz, including DJ Cheb I Sabbah, Riffat Sultana, and Gingger. It’s enough to make our little hearts burst with excitement! Here’s a little rundown in case you’ve been, um living in a cave.

Cheb I Sabbah, DJ virtuoso, has been mixing it up for over 20 years, blending African, Asian, and Arabic music to create his own eclectic sound. Over the span of his career, he has released 9 albums including “Krishna Lila” and “Maha Maya”. Up next is an Kirtan album due later this year featuring the various religions of India.

The Pakistani folk artist Riffat Sultana, the first female singer in her illustrious family (she is the daughter of Ustad Salamat Ali), braved family and societal restrictions to prove herself as a talented performer. In between pushing the boundaries for women and giving kick-ass concerts, she records and collaborates with the likes of Quincy Jones and of course Cheb I Sabbah.

Violinist, singer, model, and all-around fab girl, Gingger, has collaborated with all sorts of artists including Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins to name a few. And oh yeah, she just happened to be one of the artists featured in the score to “The Passion of the Christ”.

Last but certainly, not least, is the Taal Dance Company. The fusion (yes there’s that word again), dance troupe combines traditional Indian elements with modern Western styles, often set to electronic South Asian beats. The company has performed everywhere from the Getty Museum to a Pepsi commercial with Christina Aguilera.

Phew! If that isn’t enough to get your cultural appetite going, you might need to have your pulse checked.

Did we mention it’s free? You can thank us later.

Levitt Pavilion, 87 N. Raymond Street, Pasadena, CA. www.levittpavilionpasadena.org