Over the last 28 years, Brave Combo has collected a dizzying array of descriptive musical pegs, boldly going where few bands have gone before, and even fewer could (or would) dare to venture. Succeeding in its first mission, Brave Combo is America's premier contemporary polka band, and a Grammy winning one at that. One can describe them as a groundbreaking world music act, a hot jazz quintet, a rollicking rock'n'roll bar band, a Tex-Mex conjunto, a sizzling blues band, a saucy cocktail combo, a deadly serious novelty act, a Latin orchestra, and one of America's dance bands par excellence. Brave Combo remains a band, despite all the achievements, whose music all but begs wider airing.

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Atash is a name which evokes the life-giving ritual fire of ancient Persia.  The group features masterful musicians from the Middle East, India, Europe, Africa and the Americas harmonizing to create an engaging musical experience like no other. The sound of Atash grows from the seamless blend of ancient and modern traditions, obliterating boundaries of any kind and uniting performers and audiences alike. The international musical ensemble Atash attracts fans of all ages, races, creeds and walks of life around the world.

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Eric Dozier fuses African-American gospel and traditional spirituals with world rhythms into a musical elixir that the New York Times has called “...rousing”. Eric attended Duke University majoring in Public Policy Studies with an emphasis on youth, race, poverty, and education. He later obtained a Masters in Theological Studies from Duke Divinity School and completed post-graduate studies at the Landegg Academy's World Order Studies Program in Weinmacht, Switzerland. Compelled by the urgent need to help establish unity at a neighborhood, national and global level, Eric Dozier formed One Human Family Music Workshop combining jazz and gospel to create a unique gospel experience. Through his role as co-founder and National Director of Arts and Education for One Human Family Workshops, Inc., Eric devotes his musical, spiritual, and intellectual talents to eradicating social, religious, racial, gender, and cultural discrimination.

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Violinist Naseem Khozein comes from a family of great musicians--her great-uncle is a master Persian violinist, highly regarded around the world. Her uncle, Farzad, masterested the classical violin realm and is now number one in the New Age charts. Naseem began violin at the age of four under Farzad and has worked to integrate her own style into many musical styles.

Naseem was raised in Waco and performered in the Waco Youth Symphony Orchestra. Sh5555e is a graduate of the University of Texas where she played in ensembles including the UT Symphony Orchestra, the UT Brazillian Ensemble, and the UT Andean Ensenble. In 2002 she toured with Grammy-wining producer KC Porter, Farzad and Lenonor Dely and most recently toured with Barrage, a world-traveling dancing vioinist group from the producers of Blue Man Group.

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In Spanish Regional and Classical Dance, strict attention is given to accuracy in technique, costuming and staging. Through their artistic range, Del Espadin dancers successfully portray the exuberance, sophistication and elegance of these dances. In Flamenco, Doña Maria vehemently insists on preserving the spirit of the gypsy tradition that is the backbone of this art form. The rules of traditional Flamenco are strictly respected leaving no room for “modern” or “show biz” innovations that are essentially meaningless. She constantly enforces the principle that Flamenco is an expression of emotions through the dance, not merely the execution of techniques practiced for hours in a studio. Maria Del Espadin stresses the importance of improvisation and spontaneity as practiced in authentic Flamenco. Del Espadin dancers are encouraged to explore their own creativity instead of following studied and lifeless choreography.

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Artist Website

In all teaching Central Texas String Academy incorporates the philosophies of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, who believed that every child has musical ability. Parents and teachers work together to develop the potential of each child.

The Central Texas String Academy enjoys a local, regional, and national reputation for excellence. Over the past 25 years the program has grown to over 130 violin, viola, cello, and bass students. In addition to String Academy lessons and classes, younger students may choose to participate in the junior level orchestra, while more experienced players can participate in an advanced orchestra as well as in a chamber ensemble.

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"Dale Watson writes songs that wouldn't sound out of place on one of Johnny Cash's best albums -- songs that will endure...addressing matters of life and death, truth and justice, loss and longing in a voice that rings -- make that, rumbles -- with conviction." - The Washington Post

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Comparisons, if they must be made, might meander more toward a low-intensity Grateful Dead (which, it should be noted, started out as a real jug band) or something with an even more melodic and laid-back vibe. Lead singer/acoustic guitarist James Hyland, whose tenor redefines mellow, would be quite happy if you’d just go with “bitchin’ tunes.”

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