AN OUD OL’ TIME
By Jessica Freiman

Jerusalem Post
Oct 6 2005

Armenian-American oud player and composer Ara Dinkjian, founder
of instrumental quartet Night Ark, will perform at the Jerusalem
International Oud Festival’s closing show this year. Performing along
with Dinkjian at the concert will be Israeli musicians Zohar Parasko
on percussion and Adi Renrat on piano.

The 2005 Jerusalem International Oud Festival, produced and managed by
Confederation House in the Yemin Moshe neighborhood, will be held this
year between November 14th and 26th. The joint performance is based on
Dinkjian’s own compositions as well as traditional Armenian folksongs.

Dinkjian, 45, is an American-born Armenian who grew up listening to
traditional Armenian music alongside American pop and jazz. His big
break came in 1986 when RCA Records offered him a recording contract,
prompting him to found Night Ark, which achieved great success in
the music world and remains a symbol of original instrumental music
combining Mediterranean melodies with jazz, pop, and classical music.

Israelis will recognize Dinkjian’s work from Yoav Izhak’s song “Ze
HaZman Lisloach”; Dinkjian composed the melody.

Dinkjian, considered one of the world’s best oud players, will perform
at the International Oud Festival’s final show on Saturday November
26, 2005 in Jerusalem.