Zade Dirani
Zade Dirani (Arabic: زيد ديراني, born in 1980), is a Jordanian pianist, composer, and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for the Middle East and North Africa, whose genre blending songs are inspired by Arabic, Latin, pop, and classical music. He has performed before thousands around the world including Queen Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela, amongst others.[1]
Zade Dirani | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 1, 1980 |
| Origin | Amman, Jordan |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Pianist, Composer |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Labels | ZD Records distributed by EMI |
| Website | www |
Work
He has released eight CDs, which reflect his studies of each culture while attending the National Music Conservatory in Amman and the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Audiences throughout the Middle East, Europe, and the United States have attended his performances held in various places. His albums have reached #3 on the US Billboard chart. The CD for Zade's project: One Night in Jordan debuted on Billboard at #2 on the New Age Chart, #5 on the Classical Crossover Chart, and #11 on the Overall Classical Chart. Zade's accompanying DVD also debuted on Billboard's Top DVD/Music Video Charts at #18. Zade has toured extensively throughout the U.S and has performed in Spain, France, England, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Lebanon, Morocco, Kuwait, and Egypt. Zade has been officially endorsed by YAMAHA pianos thus joining the very select artist roster of YAMAHA artists, playing and representing the brand's piano exclusively where ever he plays.
Roads To You: Celebration of One World
In 2006, Zade launched an ambitious project entitled "Roads to You, celebration of One World" in Washington, DC under the patronage of Queen Noor of Jordan.
Titled "Roads to You: Celebration of One World", Zade led 40 musicians from 18 countries, in a project that showcased participants from war-torn regions coming together and working in an atmosphere of trust and team spirit. Musicians performed and shared their heritage with fellow tour members; participated in more than 100 cultural presentations at educational institutions and community/ civic functions in each city; with their host families and friends; and with their own families at home upon their return. Proceeds supported charities and causes.
The concert tour featured compositions from Zade's three recordings which include his latest CD, Beautiful World released May 2, inspired by his Middle Eastern heritage. His second CD, Roads to You, was released in June 2004 in the United States featuring Arabic and Latin influences performed by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir. One of the cuts from the CD, titled Kingdom of Peace, was featured at the 2006 Winter Olympics as the Japanese Female Figure Skating Team competed to this song. That song, and the Roads to You CD is the collective effort of more than one hundred musicians from different parts of the world, and was recorded in Miami, Beirut, Prague, and Los Angeles. Roads to You remained on the Billboard Charts more than 20 weeks. His debut CD, self-titled Zade, was released in April 2003, and featured a host of guest musicians from the Middle East and the United States including Charlie Bisharat on Violin, Chris Chaney on Bass (Alanis Morissette, Jane's Addiction), Gabriel Gordon on electric guitar (Natalie Merchant), and Imane Houmsey on Kanoon (Fairouz, Julia Boutros). The album remained on the Billboard Charts for 13 weeks. The CD was supported with performances worldwide, and an extensive "house concert tour" in the U.S.
One Night In Jordan: A Concert for Peace
Filmed at one of the oldest Roman Amphitheaters in the world in Amman, Jordan, One Night In Jordan: A Concert For Peace is a concert performance from Zade. Accompanied by musicians from over 40 nations, including London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the London Voices. The album was released on February 9, 2010 by ZD Records and distributed by EMI. The concert DVD was released on March 9, 2010 by ZD Records and distributed by EMI. The concert was aired on PBS stations in 2010 and 2011.
Zade Foundation for International Peace and Understanding
To continue cross-cultural understanding through the arts, Zade has launched The Zade Foundation for International Peace and Understanding aimed at helping young musicians share with the world a deeper understanding of their cultures by offering them a unique opportunity to expand their roles from musicians to proactive peace builders and future community leaders.
Performances for public figures
Zade was invited by King Abdullah and Queen Rania of Jordan to join them on the official state visit to the United Kingdom where he performed before Queen Elizabeth and the British royal family in London. In May 2005, Zade performed at the Library of Congress in Washington DC in celebration of Jordan's National Day by invitation from the Jordanian Ambassador to the United States. He also was invited to perform at the World Economic Forum Extraordinaire 2003 in Jordan. Zade has graced the stage at a tribute to President Nelson Mandela organized by the United Nations Foundation and the Mosaic Foundation in Washington, DC. Other distinctive appearances include "Exploring Jordan" held at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC.
Work with UNICEF
Zade was appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for the Middle East and North Africa in August 2016. With UNICEF, he performed at Al Zaatari Refugee camp in Jordan which later inspired the creation of "Musiqati", the world's first music therapy program designed specifically for children in refugee camps. The programme helps Syrian refugee children cope with trauma and loss by making music, while also enhancing their skills to communicate and express themselves, and group cooperation.
The program was designed by child protection and music therapy experts in consultation with children and adults living in Syrian refugee camps in Jordan. The evaluation of the program that was piloted for a year in Azraq refugee camp shows that 65 per cent of child participants displayed significant progress in terms of their participation, ability to wait and take turns, decision-making, working with others, and ability to express themselves confidently.
Zade also collaborated with UNICEF on the creation of the song "Heartbeat". The song, composed by Zade with production by David Santisteban and lyrics by Jad Rahbani, is a message of hope from Syria's children to the children and people of the world, with a simple request to get their childhood back. The song is performed by 10 year-old Ansam, an internally displaced girl in Syria who was born blind. The song was shot in an area of Syria heavily damaged by the fighting. Children performing as part of the choir are all internally displaced and participate, along with Ansam, in UNICEF psychosocial support programmes.
Un Piano Y Amigos
In February 2020, Zade released his 8th album entitled Un Piano y Amigos, produced by Spanish hitmaker David Santisteban, and featuring vocal collaborations with some of Spain's top artists including India Martinez, David DeMaria, Pitingo, Ana Mena, Eva Ruiz, Lerica, Lorena Gomez, Soraya, and Paula Rojo.
Awards
In October 2004, Zade was awarded the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee's Distinguished Achievements Award for his work that promotes global understanding through the arts. He has also received The Jordanian Ministry of Education Award for the Arts and The Arab-American Music, Art, and Literature (AMAL) Award.
References
- "Inside The Beltway". washingtontimes.com. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
External links
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