Spring Break
'Razz' blends rock, Arabian, jazz music
Wes Putt, Staff Writer
Issue date: 5/3/06 Section: Lifestyles
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"We try so hard to fit into categories and find the differences between us, especially Arabs and Americans," Maraka said, "I don't see the difference except for small cultural details that simply have to do with where we live and what our great fathers came up with through commonalities.
"We are a new generation full of hope," Maraka said, "and simply don't want to fight."
Maraka feels good about the future after living in America, he said. "My plan with Razz is to show the world that Americans and Arabs can sit in one band and play one song and feel the same way about it.
"As for the listeners ... Americans and Arabs listen to the band and both say 'I just got goose bumps.' That is why I know this is going to work, and I have no doubt."
The Razz concert tonight will be a rare event, but Maraka is working to spread the word. "I will be talking to the American Embassy and Jordanian Government," Maraka said, "and I will be talking to producers to tell them to get involved in this message that I am trying to spread."
The message, however, should not be an academic or political message that only reaches intellectuals, Maraka said. "It has to be a popular message - that's the idea of Razz - and that's the idea of starting it from Arkansas, USA.
"There are so many reasons for people to attend the show," Maraka said. "One hour of their time will make a big difference in the world, and certainly a change within the audience itself.
"The bigger the audience, the more we can show the world that this is working out - that I can show the [American] Embassy and Jordanian government that this is a serious message."
Razz premiers at 7 p.m. tonight at the Union Ballroom.
"We are a new generation full of hope," Maraka said, "and simply don't want to fight."
Maraka feels good about the future after living in America, he said. "My plan with Razz is to show the world that Americans and Arabs can sit in one band and play one song and feel the same way about it.
"As for the listeners ... Americans and Arabs listen to the band and both say 'I just got goose bumps.' That is why I know this is going to work, and I have no doubt."
The Razz concert tonight will be a rare event, but Maraka is working to spread the word. "I will be talking to the American Embassy and Jordanian Government," Maraka said, "and I will be talking to producers to tell them to get involved in this message that I am trying to spread."
The message, however, should not be an academic or political message that only reaches intellectuals, Maraka said. "It has to be a popular message - that's the idea of Razz - and that's the idea of starting it from Arkansas, USA.
"There are so many reasons for people to attend the show," Maraka said. "One hour of their time will make a big difference in the world, and certainly a change within the audience itself.
"The bigger the audience, the more we can show the world that this is working out - that I can show the [American] Embassy and Jordanian government that this is a serious message."
Razz premiers at 7 p.m. tonight at the Union Ballroom.
