APAP Showcases 2026
Yemen Blues
Friday, January 9, 2026, 7:30PM
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 7:00PM
Sunday, January 11, 2026, 3:00PM
Sunday, January 11, 2026, 8:30PM
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Beekman Parlor, New York Hilton
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Yemen Blues was created in 2010, lead by charismatic frontman Ravid Kahalani and has both challenged and helped evolve the world music genre. At once contemporary and timeless, defiantly singular, and deliciously eclectic, they were immediately acknowledged as one of the planet’s most invigorating bands. Described by Relix magazine as “Unlike any band that exists,” the effervescent multinational quartet will showcase their singular, exhilarating polyglot cocktail of Bedouin folk, free jazz, folk, blues, avant garde, Arabian classical, and fuzzed-out rock and psych. Their upcoming album, at once deeply personal and worldly wise, melds seventeen improvisational musicians into a sonic family whose unity towards a higher cause permeates its exotic grooves and cosmopolitan instrumentation.
Baklava Express
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Friday, January 9, 2026, 6:40PM
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Morgan Suite, New York Hilton
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Baklava Express is a New York City-based cross cultural ensemble lead by award winning composer and oud player, Josh Kaye. The group perform original compositions deeply rooted in a rich tapestry of diverse traditions, drawing strong inspiration from the liturgical music of Ashkenazi and Mizrahi communities, Ottoman classical music, and the folk traditions of the wider Mediterranean. Through their seamless fusion of these traditions, Baklava Express crafts a sound that feels both timeless and contemporary.
Eleanor and Dario
Friday, January 9, 2026, 9:20PM
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 3:30PM
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Morgan Suite, New York Hilton
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Charismatic USA–Argentine duo delivering intimate, high-level performances with guitar, charango, cello, percussion and rich vocal harmonies. Their world-spanning, multilingual (French, Spanish, Portuguese, English, Hebrew) repertoire blends jazz, Latin grooves and heartfelt storytelling. Audiences enjoy a masterful, joyful trip around the world that resonates deeply across cultures and generations. This year’s showcase features their new album “Just The Three of Us” - fresh interpretations of classics by Simon & Garfunkel, Jobim, Buena Vista Social Club, Bill Withers and more, plus original works. Educational programming available K-12 and at the university level.
Gili Yalo
​Saturday, January 10, 2026, 11PM
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Drom, 85 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
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Gili Yalo boldly reimagines contemporary Ethiopian music - melding raw soul power, funk grit, psychedelic color, and jazz freedom into a dance-floor groove with real emotional weight. Singing in both Amharic and English, he rides hypnotic rhythms and vivid melodies with a voice that cuts straight through.
Backed by a sharp three-piece band, Gili’s sound moves from tight pocket funk to swirling, trippy climaxes - modern, fearless, and made to hit live.
Isle of Klezbos
Sunday, January 11, 2026,12:30PM
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City Winery Loft, 25 11th Ave, New York, NY 10011
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Soulful, fun-loving powerhouse all-gal ISLE of KLEZBOS klezmer sextet is infused with genre-defying artistry, performing internationally together since 1998. Celebrating Yiddish musical traditions with equal parts chutzpah and heart, they blend neo-folkloric tunes, re-imagined swinging classics, and a sophisticated sound all their own. Lauded as “rapturous and rollicking” (L.A. Blade) and “intoxicating” (The New York Times).
