Rim Banna - April Blossoms

Rim Banna reaches out to children in Gaza with new CD!

Rim Banna, Palestine's star of children’s songs is familiar to Norwegians from previous KKV releases and her concerts with Kari Bremnes. In addition to her career as an adult artist she has won the hearts of many a child over the last twenty years with her songs for children. Now twenty old and new songs with Norwegian/Turkish/American accompaniment will be distributed free to children in Gaza and refugee camps on the West Bank. The album features songs that describe the idyll and pleasure, joy and humour that dominate day-to-day Palestine – when it is not ravaged by war.

Supported by a spirited band with excellent Norwegian, Turkish and American musicians, and a children's choir from Nazareth, Rim Banna presents her own texts and songs. They describe the children’s lives and interests, such as the stubborn donkey, a kitten playing with a string, a garden with all its fruits, figs, dates, nuts and olives, the celebration of birthdays, finger games and lullabies.

Norwegian Church Aid and several international church aid organizations under the ACT umbrella (Action by Churches Together) are cooperating on this project, funding it and helping to distribute the CD in Gaza. They see this as an important part of aiding children suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after this winter’s devastating war.

Musicians include Gjermund Silseth (bass), Eivind Aarseth (guitar), Rune Arnesen (drums), David Wallumrød (keyboards), Leonid Alexeienko (acoustic guitar), Steve Gorn (bansuri flute and clarinet) Ertan Tekin (duduk) and Tarkan Ongen (oud). The producer is Erik Hillestad.

RIM BANNA 

Palestine singer, poet and songwriter . Born and grew up in Nazareth. Studied in Moscow where she met her husband Leonid Alexeienko . The duo travels around the world performing their songs. The music tells stories of love, solidarity and the Palestinian people . Rim Banna also has a large repertoire of children's songs. Her first performance for KKV was a duet with Kari Bremnes on the CD "Lullabies from the Axis of Evil"