Waleed Abdulhamid - Electric Bass & Acoustic Guitar

+ myspace.com/waleedabdulhamid

Waleed Abdulhamid Multi-instrumentalist, composer, vocalist, producer and film maker, Waleed Abdulhamid, has been an active member of the Toronto music scene, since his arrival in Canada in 1992. He demonstrates his versatility on guitar, bass, drums, flute, harmonica, kirin, bass kirin, darabhuka, marimba, balimbo, congas, bongos, djembe, dumbek and tama. He is known for his striking vocals, his innovative bass technique and his speed and precision on percussion.

Waleed is one of the 12 resident artists at the Young Center for Performing Arts. He is often selected to sit on grantreviewing juries for several Canadian Art Councils. Waleed has played, toured and recorded with the pop/rock band, The Claymen, African band, AfroNubians, world jazz artist, Mosa Neshama and reggae band, Solid Rock. Waleed has played and recorded with David Clayton Thomas from the Grammy award winning band “Blood, Sweat & Tears” as well as with the Motown Legend Band “The Drifters”.

He also played and recorded with the well known composer/pianist/organist Doug Riley. In addition, Waleed has played with a large number of well known artists, Jackie Richardson, Julie Black, Karyn White, Deborah Cox and presently Zaki Ibrahim. He has also recorded with jazz bass player Paul Novotny, on a Honda promotion, and with jazz pianists David Johanns and Joe Sealy. Waleed was a founding member of award-winning African bands, Radio Nomad and Balimbo. He is the founding member of the African Jazz band Waleed Kush and the hip/hop band Kings of Kush. He has also worked extensively as a studio musician and arranger with many local R&B bands.

He has appeared at Canadian festivals such as Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, The Downtown Jazz Festivals of Toronto, Halifax and Vancouver, The Toronto Street Festival, Afrofest (Queenspark), the CJRT Colour of Jazz Festival (Ontario Place), Rhythms of the World Festival and WOMAD (Harbourfront) of Toronto, the Vancouver Downtown Festival, the Atlantic Festival and the Hillside Festival. Waleed is the film director of the award winning documentary Let´s Find Away. As music and theatre director Waleed has directed a series of shows at the Caliban Arts Theatre (Freedom Live), Inner Stage, and various dance companies.

Waleed is also renown for his teaching abilities. Waleed is a teacher at Humber College. He also teaches a “World of Music” at Hart House - University of Toronto, Toronto District School Board where he has taught music in various high schools, Full Circle Productions and private tutorials. He has also facilitated many workshops in different music schools.

Waleed has written, composed and produced music for several TV shows. This includes a series of documentaries for the Discovery Channel, a documentary about “Hajj” for CBC, the “11th hour” on CFTO and a series of documentaries for the History channel including “Lumamba” as well as the 4 hour miniseries about relief doctors “Whiskey Echo” that was broadcasted on the CBC, BBC, TV5 and Australian broadcast channels.

Waleed was born in Sudan in 1968. He began performing at the age of 6, when he appeared on a popular weekly children´s television show and on a radio show in Sudan. Before leaving Sudan in 1989, he toured across his country, as well as Egypt, Syria, Kuwait and Emirate. Waleed was known for bringing traditional rhythms into popular music in Sudan. Many percussionists across the country emulated his unique percussion style. He played with top bands and singers in the region, such as Egd Ejelad, Abdulkarim Kably, Khalil Ismail and Mohamed Alamin. Egd Ejelad was responsible for bringing traditional music from ethnic groups all over Sudan and a strong message on social issues to the city centres.

When he left Sudan at age 18, he performed, recorded and toured extensively, appearing at major music festivals in Stockholm, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Oslo, as well as in Finland and Iceland.

Boonaa Mahammed - African Canadian (Hip-Hop)

+ boonaa.com

Known for his unique sense of humour and riveting stage presence, Boonaa Mohammed has toured Canada performing at conferences, showcases and schools across the nation. In addition to just writing and performing, Boonaa frequently conducts writing workshops and seminars, sharing his experience and expertise with mainly disenfranchised youth helping to pass on the ancient tradition of storytelling to the next generation.

Still early in his career, Boonaa is also set to cross over into the world of theatre with a current writing residency at Theatre Passe Muraille for his first play entitled “Purple Don´t Cry Love” directed by world renowned Weyni Mengesha. His latest spoken word album entitled “Stranger to this world” is a declaration of difference and a reminder of life´s ultimate goals.

As a youth activist, Boonaa Mohammed has taken leadership roles in organizations such as the Black Youth Coalition Against Violence, B.L.O.C.K. headz, and the Toronto Youth Cabinet. He has won numerous poetry slams around Toronto and he has been featured in the historical “When Brothers Speak” spoken word concert. Boonaa was a member of Team Toronto in the Canadian Festival of Spoken Words, and is currently touring high schools with the “Stolen From Africa” movement.

Denise Whitcomb - Thai Vocalist

+ thaidancetroupeofottawa.com

Denise Whitcomb is the assistant director of the Thai Dance Troupe of Ottawa. Studying at the University of Ottawa in Arts Administration, music and dance has always been an integral part of her life. She has dabbled in traditional dances of Canada, Scotland, India and Indonesia however Thai classical and folk dance is her forte. With regards to music, as she loves everything from classical to folk to rock and pop, with no cultural or language boundaries in mind.

Denise grew to love music and dance from her parents, the music from her dad and the dance from her mom. And this love of Canadian and Thai music and dance blossomed when she lived abroad in Indonesia and India because her parents always allowed for opportunities to promote their respective native cultures. Traveling around the world numerous times, allowed Denise to absorb as much culture as she could which she will always bring to the table.

Denise is also in a Thai-Canadian modern rock/pop/folk band called Five Daze where she sings and plays the violin. She also enjoys playing the fiddle, piano and guitar. And from time to time she will entertain herself by playing the drums, bass and mandolin.

Denise is a true example of cultural integration. Her mixed Thai-Canadian background is directly expressed in her love for the music and dance of both cultures.

Ruth Mathiang - Sudan Vocalist

+ myspace.com/ruthenfriends

Ruth Mathiang has quickly become one of the rising stars of African music in Toronto. She comes from a musical family, where both her parents were musicians in their youth. She followed her parents´ footsteps by joining musical clubs, composing and singing her own songs. In Kenya, she performed with local musicians ranging from traditional music to hip hop. Her CDs were well received and led to performances in many local and international events in Canada and the States, including events such as “The Lost Boys and Lost Girls Conference” held in Phoenix, Arizona, and the Hot and Spicy musical festival in Toronto.

In 2005-2006, she recorded her second album Butterfly. Butterfly is a mixture of her favourite styles of music, from Hip Hop, Reggae, Afrobeat, to Gospel.

“I believe freedom is in the heart and how we let love in, freedom awaits our invitation. I sing and write about the struggle of the human heart to open and let freedom shine.”
- Sudanese singer, song writer Ruth Mathiang.

“Songs represent her hopes and dreams for the world, and especially her home country.”
- Anne McCallum, University of Prince Edward Island Media Relations and Communications.