I went to a concert on Monday, October 13, 2025, at the Chop Shop in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. If I really enjoy a concert, I don’t listen to any music on the way home in order not to ruin the vibe created by music performed in the concert. In this case, I not only didn’t listen to any music on the way home, but I have not listened to other music for a full 24 hours. This is a testimony to how much I enjoyed the concert and wanted to sustain the mood it created.
Who was performing that made such an impression? It was Tayf. Per the website, TAYF: From Ash to Bloom, promoting the concert:
TAYF طَيْف , captured in English, can mean spectrum, diversity or vision. The ensemble widens the aperture on traditional maqam to center queer, non-binary and women performers, too often on the periphery of the tradition. From its inception in early 2024, the ensemble has performed across Chicago – keeping inclusion and activism at its core. From its debut at a sold-out Old Town School of Folk Music auditorium, to headlining the Fields of Palestine: A Benefit for Gaza, TAYF طَيْف has cemented itself in Chicago’s music scene as a pillar of innovation and community.
The band was made up of:
- Sham Abyad – Lead Vocalist
- Dr. Aliah Ajamoughli, PhD – Cello
- Phaedra Darwish – Flute, Vocals, Dancer
- C Mikhail – Bass, Oud, Vocals
- Karl El Sokhn – Guitar, Riq, Drums, Vocals
- Dr. Shayna Silverstein – Violin
- Kai Samih Movagh – Tabla
- Yasmeen – Dancer
- Bios of the musicians are
available on TAYF: From Ash to
Bloom.
All the musicians currently play or have played in the Middle Eastern Music Ensemble (MEME) of the University of Chicago.
The show was masterfully produced and promoted by Biya Biya Productions founded and run by Yasmin Zacaria Mikhaiel. The Chop Shop venue was a perfect venue for the enthusiastic audience of 150 or so. The program was two sets of dance and music with the second set being a tribute to Ziad Rahbani (1956-2025). Rahbani “was a Lebanese composer, playwright, and political commentator. Son to singer Fairuz and composer Assi Rahbani, he was a musical prodigy. His bold fusion of Arabic music, jazz, and classical forms pushed the boundaries of Arab musical tradition. His impact extended beyond art, as he was a fearless social critic who gave voice to the frustrations of everyday Lebanese people during and after the civil war.” The mood was enhanced by a video backdrop that had a loop of beautiful and engaging photos and videos of flowers blooming as well as the countryside and cityscapes of the Levant.
The music was wonderful. It was uplifting, beautiful, and inspiring.
It was evident from the opening dances of Yasmeen to the rousing encore at the end of the evening. The crowd applauded each and every song. They applauded the drum solos of Karl and Kai. They applauded the cello, violin, and oud taksims and improvisations of Aliah, Shayna, and C. They applauded and truly loved the vocal stylings of Sham. When I stood in the back, easily a third of the audience was capturing video on the cell phones. It was an amazing time.
Sham was exquisite. She is a natural talent with a deep and profound love of the Arab music she sings. You certainly hear it in each lilt and sustained note that made the audience spontaneously applaud in the middle of a song. Her body language complimented her singing with every single look, from playful to coy, from soulful to full of emotion. Sham’s stage presence is genuine. Her humble and engaging personality is evident especially given that half the audience already admired her for everything I have written here. While one might be tempted to say she was the star of the show, I would rather compliment her on being such a talented singer and ensemble member at the same time.
C is also the soul of the ensemble and this concert. A few folks with insight, spoke of C’s tireless work behind the scenes for months preparing the concert, organizing rehearsals, working with Yasmin on the production for the staging of the show. C founded the ensemble and is dedicated to its mission and values as stated above. C’s organization acumen is on par with their brilliant musicianship. I cannot enumerate the number of times C would play a bassline at a MEME practice that literally made me stop playing and look at them in admiration and astonishment. C has only been playing the oud for like a year and getting applause for their improvisations. C is multi-talented and living their dream.
Honestly, I do not mean to take away from anyone else in Tayf. I could write an article on each member of this ensemble. I loved Aliah’s cello taksim. Phaedra, Shayna, Karl, and Kai were all solid. Karl played a beautiful guitar taksim. The ensemble was for the most part tight and unified. They made an oops once or twice but they took it in stride, made light of it over the mic, laughed it off, and kept going. And the audience laughed right along with them.
Right now Tayf is a Chicago gem. I will not be at all surprised to hear that they take this show, From Ash to Bloom, or their next show on a national tour.
It was a most special evening. Whenever Tayf plays I will attend, if I can, knowing I will leave inspired, impressed, and in what I will now coin as a Tayf state of mind…
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