Raja Kassis

Specializing in Mbalax (pronounced em-ball-akh), the national popular dance music of the Wolof people in Senegal, Raja Kassis cut his teeth for over 15 years in the underground Senegalese scene in America, touring with the likes of Senegalese luminaries Fatou Guewel, Kiné Lam, Marie N'Diaye and Fatou Laobé, and also performing with famed singer Assane N'Diaye in Dakar, Senegal. His mentor while living in Boston was Lamine Touré (currently an artist in residence at MIT), widely regarded as one of the greatest sabar drummers of the "Boul Falé" generation. Also known for his work with Antibalas and Blitz the Ambassador, Kassis has performed at such venues as Carnegie Hall (in Antibalas, which served as the house band for the star studded Paul Simon Tribute), The Apollo Theater, and can be heard on soundtracks such as Mark Jackson's critically acclaimed "War Story" starring Ben Kingsley and Catherine Keener. As a solo artist, Raja Kassis released his debut album entitled HumanBEING to rave reviews in September 2014 on Ropeadope Records. Like the album, the live show, which is entitled Raja Kassis’s HumanBEING, boasts a collective of legendary West African and New York City musicians. Incorporating styles from Senegal, Mali, Nigeria, Jamaica and Hendrix-ian rock, the live show, just like the album is an experience from start to finish. In Raja’s own words, “if you listen carefully, you can see that rock and roll is the thread that ties it all together. With all the differences I've seen through my years of touring all over the world, I have always found we have more in common with each other than those differences. HumanBEING is simply a reflection of what I have seen and experienced through my lenses." He adds, "and as much as it's a story of me, it's also the story of you. HumanBEING!” From Ropeadope Records: “Guitarist for Antibalas and Blitz The Ambassador, Beirut born Raja Kassis is a positive force for awareness and progress. His debut recording, HumanBeing, is world slash jazz slash rock music that tells a story of the power and the glory of humankind on planet earth. Raja assembled an allstar crew of musicians from Mbalax to reggae and delivers it all with a vision of the new blend of transglobal sound.” Kassis has performed and recorded with artists such as Antibalas, Blitz The Ambassador, Angelique Kidjo, Seun Anikulapo Kuti, Damian Marley, Julian Marley, Hassan Hakmoun, Nneka, Allen Toussaint, Talib Kweli, Sam Moore (Sam and Dave), Capelton, U-Roy, Oxmo Puccino, Marcelo D2, Mike Gordon (Phish), Tunde Adebimpe (TV On The Radio), Peetah Morgan (Morgan Heritage), Cat Core (Third World), Toubab Krewe, Emicida, Sarkodie, Amayo's FU Arkist-RA, Les Nubians, Corneille, Taranga (NYC Mbalax band From Senegal), Thio Mbaye, Assane N'Diaye, Fatou Guewel, Kiné Lam, Marie N'Diaye, Fatou Laobé, Balla Kouyaté, Lamine Touré and Group Saloum, among many, many others Venues performed at include Carnegie Hall, The Apollo Theater, Lincoln Center, Central Park Summer Stage (NYC), Celebrate Brooklyn Prospect Park (Brooklyn, NYC), Northsea Jazz Festival (Rotterdam, Holland), Musicales do Mundo (Sines, Portugal), Trans-Musicales (Rennes, FR), Womex (Copenhagen), Womad (Malmesbury, U.K.), Theatre De La Ville (Paris, FR), Paradiso (Amsterdam, holland), SESC Pompeii (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Nuits D'Afrique (Montreal), The Smithsonian (Washington, DC), Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, DC). Raja Kassis’s HumanBEING, boasts a collective of legendary West African, New York City and New Orleans musicians, an experience from start to finish