Bios
About Midnight Debke
Midnight Debke is a Middle Eastern folk band based out of San Diego. By using their knowledge of classical Arabic folk music and improvisational song creation, they've been able to turn out a unique experience for any audience. With the sounds of Sarah Burgess on violin and Matt Lust on percussion, ney flute and vocals, an amazing experience is created.
Midnight Debke has performed throughout the city at festivals, clubs, weddings and solo billings. Their goal is to give the audience a better understanding and appreciation for the music of the Far East. Most often, the environment can involve a certain sense of participation, making it a fascinating to behold. Many times they can be seen in collaborative performances with a variety of local dance talent. They're most commonly seen with the local dance troupe the Talisman Dance Company. In these shows you can see their use of choreography and stage theatrics which they've become known for, be it in a crowded cabaret belly dance setting, or on a stage at a renaissance faire.
Experience that which it is to understand the Sufi idea of “Tarab,” a sacred event involving the connection between the audience and the performers. Experience Midnight Debke.
Sarah “Cranberry” Burgess
Sarah has been playing violin for more than two decades. She graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1997. While in Colorado she performed and practiced with many greats such as, Souhail Kaspar, Nasser Musa, Billy Woods and Arabic violin master, George Lamam. While there she was a key musician in many shows involving music from all over the globe including classical and contemporary music from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and many of the Balkan countries. Currently, here in San Diego, California, she's been working on several Middle Eastern projects in the local community. Such events include Sameda faire, Escondido Renaissance Faire and Ojai Pirate Faire. She's worked with great local talents like Urban Tribal, Meleah and the Talisman Dance Company. Currently many exciting new projects are in the works with Midnight Debke such as, recording, more shows and more great musical endeavors. Be on the lookout for a rock fusion experiment of Sarah's coming soon.
Besides being a great musician, Sarah is also a very skilled and trained dancer. She's been studying Middle Eastern dance for 16 years with such Colorado greats as Suzanna Delvecchio. She was in and helped coordinate several local dance troupes in that area and later moved to Wyoming to be a lead dancer in the troupe “Mirage” headed by dance instructor Marjorie. Since moving to San Diego, she's been in many dance performances with Urban Tribal. With them, she's been able to adopt the modern tribal dance technique and apply it to all of her classical and cabaret style repertoire. Now she's teaching private instruction in all forms of Middle Eastern dance throughout the greater San Diego area. Look for more of her dancing expertise with the girls of Talisman Dance Company, led by Heather Wells.
Matt
Matt has been studying music for most of his life. He's played everything from classical music to punk rock. Over the last 10 years, his expertise has been focused on all there is to know about Middle Eastern percussion. In his home town of Salt Lake City, Matt found his first teacher, a percussionist named Brett Bowen. While in Salt Lake, they performed at the Middle Eastern Belly Dance Festival 4 years running. From there Matt moved to Denver to pursue further opportunities. After attending the Mendocino Middle Eastern Music camp, he was able to study with such percussive greats as Polly Tapia Ferber and Karim Nagi. Here is where he first met his master level teacher, Souhail Kaspar. With the help of Souhail, he was able to become a noteworthy Egyptian tabla player and one of the best classical Egyptian riqq players in the area and on the west coast. Playing with the band Sultanah from Denver gave him the chance to shine over and over again at many cultural events in the greater three-city area. It was with them that Matt found another musical love, the Egyptian ney. He's studied closely with a Sufi master, Omar Faruk Tekbilek. Since then he's been in the band Midnight Debke ever since he moved to San Diego three years ago. They've played many fairs and shows throughout the area ever since.
Matt has been a percussion teacher for as long as he's been a student. First he taught in Salt Lake City with many private and group lessons, then in Denver for three years. Teaching has brought him to cities all over the country and even to Canada. Currently Matt teaches several students beginning to advanced level classes in riqq, tabla and concert finger cymbals.