Gaida Releases Debut Album- Levantine Indulgence, 3/21

Gaida's debut album Levantine Indulgence arrives March 21, 2010 (Palmyra Recordings). A mesmerizing collection that explores the tonal and imporvisational intersection of traditional Arabic music with American jazz.  For streaming audio, visit www.rockpaperscissors.biz/go/gaida. 

Gaida is a vocalist and composer working at the intersection of the New York Arab and improvised music scenes. Her compositions draw at once on classical Arabic song, Syrian folk traditions, and free improvisations that expand on traditional Arabic modes to produce an original and highly personal style marked by great emotional intensity. An acclaimed singer from an early age, Gaida was born in Germany and raised in Damascus. Later she lived in Kuwait, Paris, and Detroit, where she received classical voice training at Wayne State University. Now settled in New York, Gaida works with leading music artists such as Amir ElSaffar, Brahim Fribgane, Tareq Abboushi, Zafer Tawil, and Rufus Cappadocia.

Gaida has recorded for major motion pictures, including Jonathan Demme's Jimmy Carter: Man from Plains, in which she recorded with Gillian Welsh and Alejandro Escovedo. She also appeared on Jonathan Demme's latest film Rachel Getting Married and recorded with Robyn Hitchcock, composed and recorded a song for The Hennegan Brothers' documentary film "The First Saturday in May". Gaida also maintains a parallel career as a speech pathologist.

Gaida's songs, refined over a decades-long journey, unite the elegance of Arabic poetry and the refined ornamentation of Middle Eastern vocals with the sophisticated urbanite sensibilities of her adopted home. Gaida has moved from clubs to prestigious national venues like the Kennedy Center and major feature films, including Jonathan Demme's 2008 drama "Rachel Getting Married.