Hani Naser
Hani Naser is a musician from Jordan. He specializes in the oud and hand percussion instruments, particularly the goblet drum and djembe.
Naser is considered by critics to be a master in his field; Randy Lewis of the Los Angeles Times called him a "Veritable Hand Drum Wizard." He has performed and recorded with a number of prominent musicians, including Nicky Hopkins, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Ry Cooder, Jim Keltner, Steve Miller, Los Lobos, Violent Femmes, Don Henley, Hamza El Din, Kazu Matsui, Jennifer Warnes, David Broza, Paco de Lucía, Santana, Brian Ritchie, Tony Trischka, Leftover Salmon, Quick Silver Messenger Service, John Hiatt, Warren Zevon, Ruben Blades, Lou Reed, The Blind Boys of Alabama, 7 Walkers, and David Lindley.
Naser collaborated with multi-instrumentalist David Lindley in the early 1990s. They produced what Paul Harrar of The Union calls "One of the finest jam sessions in the music business." Los Angeles Times music critic Randy Lewis writes: "David and Hani make a convincing case for the essence of musical forms and in the process they have produced an enduring testament to the timeless flexibility and resonance of the Middle Eastern, flamenco, rock n roll, jazz, and blues forms." Their album Live in Tokyo was chosen by Guitar Player magazine as one of the top 100 albums of the last decade.
Naser was featured on Hamza El Din's album A Wish which topped the World Music charts.He recently toured the war-torn Middle East with Israeli singer-songwriter David Broza to promote peace through music, a mission very close to Hani's heart. They were invited by the Israeli and Jordanian Governments to perform in concert during the peace signing between the two countries.
Hani has also led intensive workshops entitled "The Healing Powers of Rhythm and Music." Hani Naser continues to lead these workshops at the Esalen Institute and other institutions and has formed a band with Walfredo Reyes Jr., Armand Sabal-Lecco, and Craig Eastman.
