Anka Kusu - Musicians

Thomas V. Berger
Musician Personnel Manager/Darbuka/ Vocals

Thomas watched his wife, Miriam, fall in love with Middle Eastern dance and since he had previously studied Chinese Lion Dance Drumming, trying his hand at the darbuka seemed like a good way of sharing it with her. In 2007 he met his original darbuka teacher, Kellie Friedberg, and playing quickly became a passionate journey of his own. He's come a long way from his first month or so using the bottom of a waste paper basket to repeatedly drill Baladi along a path that includes not just the joyous challenges Anka Kusu offers, but becoming the full time student of Amir Naoum Chehade and seminars with the likes of Carmine Guida of Djinn, and Raquay of Raquay and the Cavemen.

Meredith Bailin Hull
Lead Vocals/Spoons/Zills/Webmistress

Meredith started her soloist “career” in 1988 at her 8th grade spring concert and has been hooked on singing ever since. Meredith has studied with various voice coaches on and off since high school and has been performing with the Flirts of Fancie, a bawdy all-girl singing group, since 2002. So as not to be silenced during instrumental songs, Meredith began learning to play the spoons in early 2009 and zills the following summer. She is honored to have been with Anka Kusu since their first performance at Spring Caravan 2008.

Chuck Eckert
Riq/Percussion

Chuck first became involved in Belly Dancing through his late wife Peggy, of Fringe Benefit, functioning as their roadie, music consultant, and chief button pusher. In that Belly Dancing had enriched their lives so much, Chuck decided to give something back to the community. He began taking darbuka lessons in the winter of 2007, but switched to the riq in 2008 when he joined Anka Kusu.

Jack Lowry
Guitar

Jack’s first musical love was rock. His sound/lighting company, Strike Sound, he was exposed to many forms of music, including Indian and West Indian. Through these, he learned about doloks, harmoniums, & tablas. In 2007, fueled by the energy he experienced at the drum circles at Starwood and inspired by the power of Raquay & the Cavemen, he started to experiment with Middle Eastern music. He debuted with Anka Kusu at Spring Caravan in 2010.

Adam J. Klein
Guitar

Adam began seriously studying guitar in 2008 after years of interest in playing. Though music began as a hobby and an escape from the pressures of everyday life, it has rapidly grown into a quite a passion. Many people have influenced his style, including Les Paul, Dave Matthews, Tim Reynolds, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Muddy Waters, Joe Satriani, and his favorite, Stanley Jordan. Adam joined Anka Kusu in the spring of 2010.

Luis Manuel
Dohola/Doumbek/vocals/guitar

Luis Manuel has performed as a vocalist and percussionist with the world music ensemble “Mary Sarah and the Elements of Return” and with the Portuguese traditional band "Companhia das Músicas." He has studied percussion with Attila Engin, Raquy Danziger, Carmine Guida, Faisal Zedan and Amir Naoum Chehade. He teaches doumbek, facilitates drum jams, and works often with dancers. His personal website is www.LuisManuelPercussion.com.

James Najeeb Hanna
Lead Musician/Lead Guitar

James began playing piano at the age of five. In 1987, while hanging out at a local radio station in Cleveland, Ohio he heard Yngwie Malmsteen's Trilogy... and went running (quite literally) to buy a guitar; it was a life changing event. He has been in several rock bands in both Cleveland and New York, playing bass guitar, lead / rhythm guitar, keyboards and singing. He is a classically trained pianist and guitarist who has now been playing for over 20 years. James has been with Anka Kusu since their inception and his solo project, Gemini is Rising, anticipates the release if it's first CD in the very near future.

Kimberly Uresk Hanna
Vocals

Kimberly began performing in the 4th grade with her school chorus and continued her choral involvement throughout high school. She and her husband, Anka Kusu’s lead guitarist, James, enjoy working on music together and have discovered many shared favorites by Evanescence and Blackmore’s Night. After much prompting and repeated requests by all members of Anka Kusu, Kimberly joined the Troupe in 2009 and debuted on stage at Rakkasah that fall.