An Evening of Joyful & Healing Music with Jaffna

    Roger Mgrdichian is a multi-instrumentalist and composer from Philadelphia PA,
    currently residing in Collingswood NJ. He is self-taught on the oud, cümbüş, cüra saz,
    guitar and sarod, and is versed in the traditional music of his Anatolian Armenian ancestors.
    His diverse musical background includes classical and folk music of the middle east, belly dance
    accompaniment, flamenco, Sephardic music, Indian music and jazz, in addition to middle east
    rock fusion. Roger is always looking to expand instrumental boundaries and primarily seeks
    out projects that unite people, focusing on creative collaboration and cultural fusion. In addition
    to Jaffna, he has been active in several projects including Armenian Social Club, Ezuz, Atzilut 
    Concerts for Peace (a 10-member Arab/Jewish peace orchestra which has played concerts throughout 
    the world), and is a founding member and songwriter in Barakka, an innovative Turkish folk-rock
    band popular in the Philadelphia area, which has toured extensively though Turkey. 

    Raji Malik is a self taught musician who has composed and performed music in Philadelphia
    for the past 35 years, hailing originally from Rhode Island. In Jaffna he mainly plays guitar,
    but is also an accomplished sarod player, having studied in India with Mukesh Sharma. His
    acoustic guitar playing style is reminiscent of ethereal sitar combined with hard rock. As a
    rock musician influenced by Jimmy Page and David Gilmour, he switched to acoustic guitar
    after hearing Shakti featuring the legendary John Mclaughlin several years ago, and currently
    finds inspiration from many brilliant "Modern Fingerstyle" guitarists who are all disciples of
    the late innovator Michael Hedges. Raji performs in various Indian-influenced acoustic instrumental
    ensembles such as One and Arehm, and is a burgeoning solo artist in his own right. He has recorded
    two solo guitar CDs, 2020’s A Well of Hope, and 2023’s Time of the Glowing. He believes that
    music is medicine that helps us physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

    Branavan Ganesan was born in Sri Lanka, and plays tabla, cajon, folk drums, and talking drums with Jaffna.
    The group is, in fact, named in tribute to his hometown. He started playing percussion at age 5 on mridangam
    and switched to tabla when he moved to the US in 1983. After experimenting with funk and rock projects like
    local legends EDO, he decided to focus on hand percussion that suited his tabla technique and had the privilege
    of studying with Ustad Zakir Hussain for two years early on in his career. He was a member of Splinter Group,
    an offshoot of the Zakirr Hussain residency, with hip hop maestro Rennie Harris and a collection of 
    percussionists and dancers.  Over the years Branavan has expanded his playing to include flamenco
    accompaniment (Flamenco Ole) and melodic composition. He occasionally plays for bharatanatyam 
    arangetrams and classical performances Branavan is actively working on grants to create cross cultural
    understanding through musical     interchange.

    Joseph Tayoun is a performer/educator and master world percussionist who started performing at his family’s
    renowned Middle East Restaurant in Philadelphia at an early age, learning from the some of the area’s top
    international musicians. Joe plays regularly with several groups and ensembles encompassing many genres 
    including:  Jaffna, The Mid East Ensemble, Barakka, M’Oud Swing, Intercultural Journeys, Art     
    Tolerance and The Roddenberries. Joe has played extensively throughout the U.S. and internationally, and has
    been awarded several grants from the NEA, PAEP, and the U.S. State department.  For well over 20 years Joe has
    been creating and tailoring music and drumming programs and workshops for kids and adults throughout the
    Philadelphia region as an artist in residence at the University of Pennsylvania’s Museum of Anthropology and 
    Archaeology, and has worked with severely emotionally disturbed and traumatized kids for over a decade, as well
    as women in recovery from addictions.  Currently Joe teaches Elementary Music at Chester Community Charter
    School, conducts a World Percussion Drumline at Mastery Charter, and holds regular drumming workshops for
    seniors at Waverly Heights and Paul’s Run.