• WOW Hall
• July 2, 2009
• 8pm

With special guests: Oaxacan

Sir Richard Bishop and His Freak of Araby

Although best known as a Sun City Girl, Sir Richard Bishop’s solo career comprises 7 full length releases and multiple international tours. Currently crisscrossing the U.S. to promote his latest album, The Freak of Araby, Bishop will bring his crazed and aurally omnivorous extravaganza to Eugene in early July. In a way, his current project finds him going back to his roots. Of Lebanese heritage, Bishop grew up in Michigan listening to his grandfather coax arabesque sonorities from the lute, oud, and other traditional instruments in the company of friends. Bishop’s grandfather also introduced him to recordings of such Middle Eastern greats as Farid al Atrache, Oum Kalthoum, and Fairouz. With such influences entrenched at a young age it’s not terribly surprising that Bishop has had a life long passion for discovering and creating sounds that often seem alien to American audiences.

In his solo incarnation, Sir Richard continues to invite audiences along for a wide-ranging (yet impeccably played) mystical ride. He is best known for his brilliant and masterful flamenco and gypsy jazz stylings, as well as his adeptness with ragas. However, for The Freak of Araby he picks up the electric guitar and for the first time in his solo career performs with a backing band. Rumor has it that after the first day of studio recording for the album, Bishop’s entire original backing band was deported! Such trivialities would not stop the dear Sir from producing another amazing album- he quickly gathered other musicians and carried on. About half of the tracks are “covers” in a sense: interpretations of traditional North African folk songs, or compositions by Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Elias Rahbani and other notable masters of Arabic music. The other half contains Bishop’s original masterpieces where he continually demonstrates his virtuosity and inventiveness. The Austin Chronicle says “The Freak of Araby (Drag City), is another nomadic, lightning-speed race with the devil, Bishop’s playing more fluid and furious than ever”. Fans around the country are reporting that this is the best show they have seen all year and that it is not to be missed! Thanks to the University of Oregon’s Cultural Forum, Bishop and his traveling companions “Oaxacan”, an improvisational “free-rock/jazz” group, will grace the stage of WOW hall on July 2nd, 2009.