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Back in the 1980's, there was a musician named Chris Kalogerson who released records of belly dance music. His first record was Belly Dancing for Everyone, and his second was just titled Belly Dance. Both had some fabulous music true to the old classic American style of belly dance music - songs like Rampi Rampi, Ya Mustafa, various taqsims, etc. I enjoyed both records very much, and frequently used the music to practice and perform.
So imagine how excited I was to hear that he'd be playing LIVE this weekend in Lincoln, Nebraska at the Athenian (Greek restaurant) there. The only problem is, Lincoln is a 4 1/2 hour drive for me, so getting there isn't trivial. But I just can't pass up the opportunity to see him live after enjoying his music all these years. He's going to be playing there both Saturday and Sunday nights, December 30 & 31. To sweeten the pot, my dance colleagues in Lincoln proposed that I could interview him for a story for one of the belly dance magazines while I'm there.
So, I'm going. It'll be a long drive, but between having the opportunity to spend time with Naajidah and Ashiya, having the opportunity to hear Chris Kalogerson live in the intimate atmostphere of a restaurant with dancers performing, and having the opportunity to interview him the next day, how can I resist? Naajidah suggested I bring my albums for him to autograph, and I think I'll do just that!
So imagine how excited I was to hear that he'd be playing LIVE this weekend in Lincoln, Nebraska at the Athenian (Greek restaurant) there. The only problem is, Lincoln is a 4 1/2 hour drive for me, so getting there isn't trivial. But I just can't pass up the opportunity to see him live after enjoying his music all these years. He's going to be playing there both Saturday and Sunday nights, December 30 & 31. To sweeten the pot, my dance colleagues in Lincoln proposed that I could interview him for a story for one of the belly dance magazines while I'm there.
So, I'm going. It'll be a long drive, but between having the opportunity to spend time with Naajidah and Ashiya, having the opportunity to hear Chris Kalogerson live in the intimate atmostphere of a restaurant with dancers performing, and having the opportunity to interview him the next day, how can I resist? Naajidah suggested I bring my albums for him to autograph, and I think I'll do just that!
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Re: Going to see Chris Kalogerson in Lincoln, Nebraska this weekend!
Thu, December 28, 2006 - 9:34 AMHi Shira!
Oh yes, Chris is still making the rounds--great to hear he's going to be in Lincoln. :-) He's based in the Twin Cities area, and I performed with his band and other musicians who work with him on several occasions. His daughter, Callie, plays/sings with the band and she's quite good--I enjoyed her very much! They do kind of an ecclectic mix of Greek and other eastern-inspired music.
So have fun, and if you get a chance/remember, tell him Mirah from Minneapolis says hi! ;-)
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Re: Going to see Chris Kalogerson in Lincoln, Nebraska this weekend!
Fri, December 29, 2006 - 1:58 PMHave a listen!
Belly Dance
www.folkways.si.edu/search/A...ails.aspx
Belly Dancing for Everyone
www.folkways.si.edu/search/A...ails.aspx -
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Re: Going to see Chris Kalogerson in Lincoln, Nebraska this weekend!
Sat, December 30, 2006 - 5:03 PMWow, I didn't know it was available on CD!
I have all 4 (that i know of) recordings on LP. Don't know how many he made.
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Re: Going to see Chris Kalogerson in Lincoln, Nebraska this weekend!
Fri, December 29, 2006 - 3:48 PMBy the way, does anybody have any questions you wish I would ask Chris when I interview him on Sunday morning? Anything you'd like to know about him, his career, his observations about how the dance scene has changed, etc? -
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Re: Going to see Chris Kalogerson in Lincoln, Nebraska this weekend!
Sat, December 30, 2006 - 4:38 PMDear Shira,
I worked with Chris Kalogerson at the grand Ol' Day in St Paul MN. in1975.... I was 16 years old at the time I did that gig.... and I remember the Greek restaurant, Acropolis, on Grand Ave., was roasting a whole lamb rotissierie style on a huge scewer, and the wind kept blowing the smoke from that in my face during my performances...lol.... It was great working with a live band at the time.....The band members were very easy to work with, just that Chris Kalogersons drumming kept getting faster and faster eventhough the songs were not hosopiko tunes..... lol He got me into Nicklows restaurant years ago where I had belly danced steadiliy from 1977 ( I was 18 when I started there) - '81.....starting out 5 nights a week 2 shows a night, then shortly there after, grew into 6 nights a week 2 shows a night..... Those were the good ol'days ....
He also knew my brother and his band, and also knew my father.... My bro did some gigs with/through him years ago....
Chris was also a booking agent.... and maybe he still does that, and if he does, he may book you on some gigs with him and his Greek band.... (not sure how generous he will be with compensation these days) but It will be a treat for you to gig with him from time to time if you haven't already....
He has had a couple "albums" out that were fun..... I have the 'album' Dance of All ages' that I don't know if you can still get it.... where the belly dancer Kimila is on the cover, and she was the belly dancer at the Greek restaurant, George is in Fridley, at the time, when they used to have the show down stairs, where it was separate from the dining area at that time, and the band was either a 3 or 4 piece band.... and the stage that the belly dancer(s) performed on pulled out just like a giant unside down drawer..... I was impressed with Kimilas dancing way back when in 1972/73 especialy when she did this back bend and her head never touched the floor, and she did the most enormous belly roles that I have ever seen, while still in her back bend...... That gal was all muscle from her belly dancing.... the musicains there were indredibley professional ... and very easy to work with once I got my chance to perform with them there also.... (I was 15 then)
The other Album I have is Greek songs and dances, and Chris and his band are on the cover, with he in the middle front..... :-)
Also fun music but is not what I would use in my shows.....
I don't even know if he'd remember me or not but I was the belly dancer/kid with jet black hair.....
and I went by a goofy stage name name back then....
I have a lot of very fond memories belly dancing back then too when I was making my way into the local belly dance scene in the twin cities area... (Mpls & St Paul MN)
Happy New Year! Sofia Al Adawiyya
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