Alaev Family – Damrosch Park – August 8, 2012
The Alaev Family, Jews originating in Uzbekistan, later moved to Israel. The patriarch (three generations included on stage) is 82-year old Allo, the only one whose name I am sure of; web research could not deliver certainty about the two who I surmise to be Ariel and Amir. They were totally pumped about playing New York for the first time, though I suspect that their high energy level is the typical modus operandi. And there is no way that I can accurately reproduce the chromatic richness of the head gear and embroidered robes. The music incorporates various elements of the middle east, Balkans, and central Asia. Amir’s instrument resembles a hammered dulcimer, except that he strums and plucks with fingerpicks rather than percussing. As is too often true in the waning days of summer, darkness falls and sketching ends by the time the headliner (in this case L. Subramanian’s global fusion, also a family affair) takes the stage.
Allo Alaev
Ariel Alaev
Amir Alaev