Daily Aztec story: "You can call it Sufi-rock."

Musical event to create new bonds

Pakistani rock star to perform with Indian and Jewish musicians at SDSU

Justin Cooper, Contributor

The Islamic and Jewish traditions are rich cultures with origins tracing back to Abraham, but it often seems the two faiths can agree on little. To help bridge this gap, musician and actor Salman Ahmad is using a tradition just as old - music.
Ahmad, along with world-renowned Tabla player Samir Chatterjee, is bringing his peaceful message to San Diego State for the event "Common Chords." They will be joined by violinist Yale Strom, a current professor and artist-in-residence with the San Diego State Jewish Studies Program.
"Common Chords" is an uncommon musical experience that brings together different viewpoints. Ahmad is a Pakistani of the Sufi Muslim tradition, Samir is Indian and Strom is Jewish.
"It is showing the common musical roots between Muslim, Islamic and Jewish music," Strom said. "(It uses) music as a step, as a basis for dialogue between Jews and Muslims. We have so many similarities culturally."
Strom said the show will serve as a musical workshop and platform for starting an intercultural dialogue.
On their own, the performers are good musicians, but Strom said the real magic comes later in the show when Ahmad, Chatterjee and others merge their talent and style to "jam together."
Ahmad's name may not be widely known in the United States, but he is a popular talent internationally. His band Junoon was dubbed "South Asia's answer to Santana" by the New York Times and has sold 25 million albums worldwide. His style is modern rock canvassing a traditional Sufi core. His lyrics blend poetry from the Qu'ran with the Sufi poets Rumi and Omar Khayyam.
He is also known for his humanitarian work. Ahmad performed at the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony and he has traveled across East Asia speaking about AIDS as a UN Goodwill Ambassador.
While Ahmad elicits rave reviews from his native Pakistan, he receives some criticism from those who find his music offensive to Islam.
"Common Chords" is not about what separates, but about what brings people together, said Ghada Osman, Ph.D. associate professor and director of the Center for Islamic and Arabic studies.
"It brings together two groups that are often thought of as in opposition, and focuses on their commonality and their humanity," Osman said.
The show begins at 7:00 p.m. today in the Smith Recital Hall.