CONCERT PROGRAM
ABOUT TAYF طَيْف
TAYF طَيْف , captured in English, can mean spectrum, diversity or vision. The ensemble widens the aperture on traditional maqam to center queer, non-binary and women performers, too often on the periphery of the tradition. From its inception in early 2024, the ensemble has performed across Chicago – keeping inclusion and activism at its core. From its debut at a sold-out Old Town School of Folk Music auditorium, to headlining the Fields of Palestine: A Benefit for Gaza, TAYF طَيْف has cemented itself in Chicago’s music scene as a pillar of innovation and community.
ABOUT THE CONCERT
Threading nostalgia and futurism; tracing life from loss to resistance from ash to bloom: TAYF embarks on a musical journey all the way from tarab-focused original arrangements of classical repertoire to Ziad Rahbani, the late pioneering composer and political commentator.
The first set of music focuses on the spirit of tarab—musical ecstasy. The second set pays homage to Rahbani’s impact on Arab music and evolves the show into a more modern sound. Rahbani referred to his music as “oriental jazz,” a blend of Arab maqam, melodies, and rhythms infused with the swing and harmonies of Black American jazz. “Rahbani’s music is somehow both nostalgic and futuristic, traditional and innovative, pleading and demanding,” TAYF founder C Mikhail reflects. “TAYF dedicates their second set to him and his legacy, recognizing that TAYF is both old and new at the same time.”
The band offers the same in its contemporary arrangements of music in the maqam tradition. Spectrum, spirit – something ethereal, a vision. That’s what the ensemble offers: a vision of the state of contemporary maqam: boundary breaking, queer-fronted and femme-centered. Homage to the tradition and players preceding it, and grounded in modern forces.
ABOUT ZIAD RAHBANI
Ziad Rahbani (1956-2025) was a Lebanese composer, playwright, and political commentator. Son to singer Fairuz and composer Assi Rahbani, he was a musical prodigy. His bold fusion of Arabic music, jazz, and classical forms pushed the boundaries of Arab musical tradition. His impact extended beyond art, as he was a fearless social critic who gave voice to the frustrations of everyday Lebanese people during and after the civil war.
“Rahbani’s message of global resistance against fascism, colonialism, and dictatorship teaches us that we are not isolated, even as Americans in the diaspora. We must not fight for just our freedom, but the freedom of Sudan, of Congo, of Palestine, and of all oppressed peoples. These melodies are not just pleasurable reprieves from the chaos, but they are cries for action.
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TAYF ENSEMBLE
Sham Abyad
Sham Abyad is a Syrian-American vocalist. For Sham, music is more than just a passion, it’s a refuge and a way to connect deeply with herself and others. Her voice carries the depth of her diverse cultural and emotional experiences.
She has performed with the Middle Eastern Music Ensemble, the Chicago Immigrant Orchestra, and other ensembles, but being part of TAYF is especially close to her heart. She feels grateful for this path, for the music, and for the chance to have crossed paths with such extraordinary individuals, each of whom she deeply loves and cherishes.
Dr. Aliah Ajamoughli, PhD
Dr. Aliah Ajamoughli, PhD is a Syrian American ethnomusicologist, cellist and educator. Her musical style intertwines seemingly two opposing worlds: the folk tunes of her fatherland Syria with medleys of her Alabama upbringing. This blending of bluegrass and maqam sounds the necessity of revolution, joy, and hope across global systems of oppression.
Phaedra Darwish
Phaedra Darwish has been a musician since she started taking lessons at the age of 6 from her mother. She holds a degree in music (primary: saxophone and voice) and is grateful to have traveled the world because of it. She was brought into the world of Arabic music through studying and performing the art of raqs sharqi, and she feels music and dance are wonderful ways to share her heritage as a Lebanese-American. She plays with many Chicago groups which celebrate the SWANA region such as Surabhi Ensemble, Rocambu Jazz, the Middle East Music Ensemble at University of Chicago, and Music & Dance of the Mediterranean. Being a member of TAYF feels like coming home, and she is grateful to make music with such wonderful people
C Mikhail
C Mikhail (they/them) is an Assyrian-German-American musician and audio engineer based in Chicago. With a speciality in the Arab music tradition of maqam, they have become a coveted bassist in ensembles across the city like the Chicago Immigrant Orchestra, Sumoud Collective, and the Middle East Music Ensemble of UChicago. C also plays electric bass in the indie band Oyeme. Known for the founding of the queer maqam ensemble TAYF in 2024, they are a proponent of creating opportunities for musicians of the SWANA diaspora. Learn more at cmikhail.com.
Karl El Sokhn
Karl El Sokhn, aka Reckless Darling, is a Lebanese multi-instrumentalist. His approach to musical performances is fluid, open-minded and versatile. Reckless Darling takes pride in his language and heritage and his compositions seamlessly blend maqam theory with Western composition. Hitting the scene with an opening show of 650 attendees at the Irish American Heritage Center, Reckless Darling continues to participate in numerous projects in the Chicago music scene. He is the drummer for the Chicago Reader’s best emerging band of 2024, Billy Joel Jr.; the guitarist for the Middle East Music Ensemble, and the riq, guitar player and singer for TAYF.
Shayna Silverstein
Dr. Shayna Silverstein is a Chinese-Jewish-American musician and professor at Northwestern University. Since her first encounters with SWANA musical cultures while living and gigging in NYC some twenty years ago, she began to study maqam and folk music. Shayna played violin with the Middle East Music Ensemble at the University of Chicago (2003-2012), learned oud and researched dabke in Syria, and attended the Arabic Music Retreat directed by Simon Shaheen. In addition to playing SWANA music, she also plays with the Lakeview Orchestra. Find out more about Shayna's music and scholarship at shaynasilverstein.com.
Shayna appreciates how each member of TAYF brings their own musical sensibility to the intimate arrangements, and cherishes the experience of offering fresh, contemporary SWANA repertoire for Chicagoans.
GUEST MUSICIAN
Kai Samih Movagh
Kai Samih Movagh is a musician and visual artist from the Chicago area whose primary instrument is drums and percussion. Kai has experience playing in a diverse area of musical acts of different genres including jazz, rock, r&b, metal, and folk music from the SWANA region.
DANCERS
Yasmeen
Yasmeen is Arab-Hispanic-American and grew up loving raqs sharqi, or belly dance. After finding Phaedra Darwish's classes and deciding to study raqs sharqi formally in 2021, she quickly became dedicated to honoring this art and professionally reclaiming SWANA dance. She values joy and authenticity and hopes to bring that to every performance.
Phaedra Darwish
Coming from a background in instrumental and vocal music and musical theatre, Phaedra Darwish was mesmerized by Arabic dance and music after studying different types of dance from around the world. She feels that these art forms are beautiful ways to share the culture of her heritage.
She has been performing and teaching workshops and classes in Chicago and throughout the US for the past 14 years, as well as producing and taking part in cultural events, community fundraisers, and dance festivals as both a musician and dancer. Learn more at bellydancebyphaedra.com.
PRODUCTION TEAM
BIYA BIYA PRODUCTIONS
Yasmin “Yasi” Zacaria Mikhaiel, Founder & Creative Executive Producer
Maureen Dunne, Production Assistant
Jonathan Gardner, Sound
Jordan Esparza-Kelley, Photography
Ian Resnick, Videography
Allison Parssi, PR Support
SPECIAL THANKS
Wanees Zarour, Maren Rosenberg, Ronnie Malley, Abbey Cat Recordings, Tony of Fast Signs South Loop, Solidarity Studios, the Middle East Music Ensemble, and the Chop Shop production staff and crew.
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PRESS CORNER
CBS News Chicago
TAYF Founder C Mikhail and BIYA BIYA Founder Yasmin Zacaria Mikhaiel speak on the Ziad Rahbani Tribute Concert and the power of cultural preservation. Watch the segment here!
TAYF: From Ash to Bloom was also featured by:
Chicago Reader’s Gossip Wolf music column by Leor Galil
Block Club’s Things to Do by Leen Yassine
Thank you to Chirp Radio for running ticket giveaways.