About Us

Reza Khan, the original "world music" artist, returns after more than a decade to both the recording studio and to his efforts with the United Nations, spreading global unity through music. Painted Diaries is the name of his new musical collaboration and the title of the long-awaited follow-up to his half-million-selling 1991 album "Members Only." The Painted Diaries CD will be released this Summer after Khan returns from a series of concerts in all corners of the world in support of SaveDarfur.org.Painted Diaries practice what they preach on the new album. The CD shows that music transcends all borders as its 14 tracks easily blend soulful world jazz and rock with the rhythms of Khan’s Bengali roots. The outstanding performers who produced these sounds also move beyond categories: Mbalafunk creator Graham Hawthorne (drums) and Funky Poets founder Paul Frazier (bass) tour in the David Byrne Band; celebrated sax man Andy Snitzer hails from Paul Simon’s touring band; and R&B vocalist Brent Carter was the lead singer for Tower of Power and has been heard on Broadway. Among the mix of other talents joining them are multi-genre singer-songwriter Tom Morrison, emerging jazz vocalist Jennifer Grimm, bassist Paul Haleem, composer/guitarist Jeff Ali, sax player Adam Adelkopf and others.Add Khan’s own signature guitar style, which blends Pat Metheny with Indian phrasing, and the musical mix offers "a sonic example of what our world can be, working in peace and harmony," he says.Why Painted Diaries? Khan says each day brings with it a collection of short stories about life, but most of these tales end up in people’s diaries, not on the evening news.There is so much that happens every day, everywhere in this world. The Painted Diaries is a canvas that collects short stories that over the years touched my heart, painted using musical notes and instruments instead of brush. ~ Reza Khan

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