Hong,Gao / Rafea,Issam - Life As Is - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Although peaceful international dialogue may seem as elusive as ever, the shining exceptions are all the more heart-warming. Two Syrian and Chinese musicians met in Minnesota. The rest is history. Both artists came from lands going through political strife- Issam Rafea living through the recent war in Syria, and Gao Hong growing up during the Cultural Revolution. Now, they continue to pursue their musical visions in the United States. They both are performers and composers and love to improvise, just like they have had to navigate their lives to survive. They both use their hearts to play music, and both believe that music needs to come from their souls and deepest feelings. Life As Is is a reflection of both of their lives. It is their life stories, as reflected in the track titles. Both of them InchWalking the DistanceInch to America to follow their dreams. They recorded the music on a rainy summer day, and even though they didn't talk about what InchSummer RainInch should sound like, they shared the exact same feelings. Their lives have not always been easy, and that is expressed in InchUndercurrentInch and the uncertainty of their lives in InchUp and Down.Inch But even in their darkest hours, they still remained optimistic and hopeful, as if there were a InchHidden DanceInch soon to appear. Sometimes, living so far away, they get InchHomesickInch and have a InchHeavy HeartInch as they miss their homelands and families, but they keep working hard and chasing their dreams as in InchChasing Butterflies.InchAnd they are thankful for the music they have made together in their InchChance Encounter.Inch They share their happy InchChildhoodInch stories in their music. So many wonderful stories, but they realize life is so short, just like a InchShort Film.Inch This is their life, these their tales- InchLife As Is!Inch