A duo brings world sounds to Café Luna

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Hejira, a duo of Olympia-based musicians, will perform a no-cover show at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, at Café Luna.

Hejira’s members hail from two very different cultures — southwestern Ohio and Egypt — and their music is a unique amalgamation of sounds from all over the world.

Don Baragiano, who has composed most of the duo’s repertoire, studied music theory and guitar at Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and Northern Kentucky University.

He also lived in Saudi Arabia for two years, studying Middle Eastern music and culture.

His duo partner, Ashraf Hakim, is a world-renowned Egyptian cellist who was first chair cellist for the Cairo Opera House for 18 years.

Hakim provides highly-skilled instrumental work, adding improvisational solos to Baragiano’s compositions.

Describing the sound the pair makes, a reviewer for the online site Sitting Duck wrote, “Hejira’s music is exotic, passionate, sonorous, even erotic, with touches of jazz extempore and even a hint of rock.”