Keyboardist Barry Sames enjoys exploring different musical genres, both as performer and as arranger/producer. M'oudswing co-founder, Sames has taken his music to Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, and South America, performing in a variety of musical groups including gospel, Latin, funk/jazz, and blues. Sames spent five years recording and performing original compositions in South America and the Caribbean with Philadelphia-based ethno-fusion group, The Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble. Sames later explored the world of rock/jazz-fusion, co-founding an original five-piece band INSYNK in the early 1990s featuring Drummer Ishmael Wilburn from WEATHER REPORT. Sames has also performed and recorded with Philadelphia guitarist Monette Sudler, violinist John Blake, and Percussionist Marlon Simon.

Najib

Drummer Najib began playing at age five in his grandfather's church in Detroit, MI. By age 16, he was playing professionally in R&B bands in the Atlantic City area. Najib began touring while at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia with various funk, rock and jazz groups. He got his first break with jazz organist Shirley Scott, touring with her quartet. Najib subsequently has performed world-wide with various international artists including Norah Jones, Cassandra Wilson, Sonny Rollins, Ludacris, Shirley Horn, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Grover Washington, Ravi Coltrane, Branford Marsalis, Sun Ra, Bobby Watson, and Morris Day. Najib continues to perform music of all genres.

Hafez Javier

Hafez Javier was born in Cumana, Venezuela. He received his nickname "El Pulpo" from playing both Arabic and Latin percussion at the same time. Hafez spent his childhood in Syria learning culture, language, and basic rhythms and melodies of classical Middle Eastern songs. In 1987 Hafez gained national exposure by winning first place in the National Syrian percussion competition for two consecutive years. This drew the attention of notable Tably player Hady Jazan, with whom Hafez learned the correct technique of the Tably, Rik, Mazhar, Duff, and Bongos. Hafez won many more national awards while in Syria in the dance (dabkey), chorus, and percussion categories through 1992. He was able to perform and record folkloric songs at shows, concerts, festivals all over Syria and Lebanon.

At age 20 Hafez returned to Venezuela where he enrolled at the TMV in Valencia,and during that time he performed and recorded in well- known Arabic bands in Venezuela, such as the Aleppo Diamond band recording for many bands and singers who came from Syria and Lebanon.

Hafez Moved to Philadelphia in 2001, and since then has performed concerts and clinics in festivals, clubs and colleges in the USA. Hafez has also blended Rumba Flamenco with Arabic percussion using an eight piece drum set, Tably, Kaun, Bongos, Jimbies, Congas, percussion island, and a game table. Hafez is also an accomplished Arabic singer, singing and playing percussion at various clubs and festivals in Philadelphia, including club Casablanca, Samba, and Esmeralda.

Hafez Joined M'Oud Swing in 2006, and has been a welcome addition in mixing various Latin, Spanish and Arabic flavors into the band.. Hafez's future goals include recording his own CD and writing a book on percussion, spreading the knowledge of percussion onto another generation.

Joseph Tayoun

Joseph Tayoun, a second generation Lebanese American, is an accomplished Middle Eastern percussionist. He started playing by age eight at his family?s renown Middle East Restaurant in Philadelphia where live authentic Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Armenian, Greek, and Israeli music and dance was performed nightly for forty years. Learning from many of the area?s top Middle Eastern players, Joe became adept at the many styles of drumming within these different ethnicities. He performs regularly with various Middle Eastern ensembles locally and throughout the region, as well as conducting workshops in schools and universities.

Among his numerous performances Joseph has played several seasons at two of the world?s largest casinos: the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City and Foxwoods in Connecticut. He has participated in several residencies with Zakir Hussain and with Simon Shaheen at Swarthmore University and The Painted Bride Art Center in Philadelphia. He accompanied Yair Dolal of Israel for performances in Princeton New Jersey and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and performs with Philadelphia Orchestra cellist Ohad "Udi" Bar David, and his ensemble Intercultural Journeys. Joseph has also been playing 'Concerts for Peace' with the Arabic/Jewish ensemble Atzilut for the past decade, which has traveled throughout the U.S. including performances at the United Nations, Germany, and Portugal. In addition, Joseph also performs with Henrik Goldschmidt, principal oboist of the Royal Danish Orchestra, and the Middle East Peace Orchestra where they have appeared on several occasions in Denmark, Sweden, and Paris.

Anibal Rojas
Chilean-born saxophonist Anibal Rojas brings to every performance a unique mix of his Latin roots, classical training, love of jazz and funky R&B flair. A tenor saxophone powerhouse, Rojas is equally at home on saxophone, EWI, flute, and a wide variety of Andean wind instruments including pan flutes and quena.

Rojas, who tours regularly with Cuba Gooding and the Main Ingredient, has also performed and/or recorded with Latin jazz great Ray Mantilla, Tom Bowes of Tower of Power fame, Philadelphia 76ers House Band, the Latin Jazz Journey, former Spin Doctor Anthony Krizan, Dennis Gruenling and Jump Time, The Diablo Project, Don't Call Me Francis, The Philadelphia Funk Authority, and Skin Tight & The New York Horns. Rojas has twice been invited to perform for the King of Morocco at the palace in Marrakech.

Rojas ? a high-energy performer, former competitive Latin dancer, and accomplished composer ? has played major venues nationwide, including Carnegie Hall, The Apollo Theater, Universal Studios Amphitheatre, and The Greek Theater, and has appeared on the television shows "Access Hollywood," "The Joan Rivers Show," "Good Morning America," and "The Today Show."

David Brodie

David Brodie started playing the electric bass at the age of thirteen and first took on the upright bass at nineteen, while enrolled at Berklee College of Music. After a year in Spain, he returned to his native Philadelphia where he quickly joined up with guitarist Jimmy Bruno, with whom he played for the next several years. From that point, his reputation well established, Brodie has enjoyed a busy playing and recording career and has played with some of the best jazz musicians in the world including Kurt Rosenwinkel, Chris Potter, Seamus Blake, and Randy Brecker while performing regularly with Philadelphia's finest such as John Swana, Larry McKenna, and Sid Simmons.

Official Web Site: www.moudswing.com

Modal Citizens, Intrigue Productions 2007