Raquy Danziger is one of the most popular performers, teachers and composers of Middle Eastern Drumming today. Audiences worldwide are not only surprised by this young woman from America, but are also captivated by her virtuosity, profound musicality and the passion she brings to performances.
Her band Raquy and the Cavemen, a duo with Liron Peled , tours all over the world and has appeared as headliners in many major festivals. In this band the dumbek is featured as a shining solo instrument. Raquy also plays the incredible 12 string Kemenche Tarhu (spikefiddle.com), a rare and exotic bowed instrument. Both Raquy and Liron have just recently begun Mongolian Throat Singing, which they do in harmony.
Raquy has spent the past several winters in the Middle East. She had the honor of performing in Egypt as a soloist with Ustaz Saiid El Artist (The Egyptian King of Tabla) , and Ustaz Hamis Henkish. She has appeared on Good Morning Egypt, Leila Kebira, O TV, the Culture Channel and has been interviewed on Al Gezira. Raquy has performed at the Cairo Opera House, the Cairo Citadel, the historic Ewart Hall in downtown Cairo, and the Great Hall in the Bibliotheque Alexandria. She has taught a course in Arabic Drumming at the American University of Cairo.
Raquy now lives part time in Istanbul where she performs and practices with virtuoso Turkish drummers, especially her main teacher Bunyamin Olguncan. She performed there with Okay Temiz. She has also appeared on Turkish Television with Ross Daly and Okay Temiz.
Raquy’s infectious enthusiasm for Middle Eastern music has attracted students from around the globe. Her students often perform with her as “The Messengers.” She hosts drumming retreats for her students in the Catskill Mountains, NY and in the Sinai Desert in Egypt.
Raquy has released two popular Dumbek Instructional Kits that include a book, a DVD and a CD. With these tools Raquy is spreading Dumbek Fever far and wide.
She has also created her own line of custom designed dumbeks which are available through her online store at ww.raquy.com/store.
Raquy has released seven CD’s, “Masmudi”
(2001), “Dust”(2004), “Jordan” (2005) “Naked” (2007), “Mischief” (2008)
, “Bewitched,” (2009) and “Release the Green Lover” (2010).