Helm - Middle Eastern Music and more

Like most professional musicians, we will be rehearsed and ready to go. Typically, we play 45 minute sets with a 15 minute break. Our repertoire is perfect for Moroccan or Ottoman themed events, desert or oasis atmospheres, and for those looking for a new adventure. We can provide background ambience, rocking dance sets, serious classical music from the rich heritage of the Arab influenced world, and wedding processions (Zaffas).

We can tailor playlists to include only original and folkloric pieces in case the venue doesn't have a performing rights license. We enjoy playing music and we want your event to be a success.

Helm's two founders and core members are Ling Shien and Mark Bell. Brief biographies follow:

Ling Shien's music studies began with the piano at the age of five. Her formal training in western music continued at the Music Conservatory in Aix-en-Provence. She started playing Arabic music shortly after meeting Mark in Southern California in 1979 and has studied Arabic and Turkish disciplines "at the source" in Cairo and Istanbul. Ling Shien is the primary composer of Helm’s original music and lead vocalist. Her songs draw on her past and continuing studies of folkloric and classical Middle Eastern music. She plays nay (Middle Eastern end blown flute), mizmar (or zurna, an oboe family instrument), kawala, accordion and zumara.

Mark started playing Middle Eastern percussion in 1972 and got his first job that same year playing for Bal Anat, a San Francisco folkloric dance troupe. He performed for years in both Arabic and Persian nightclubs in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas, as well as numerous California Renaissance Faires. He worked full time in nightclubs including the Baghdad, the Casbah, Apadana's, Cabaret Tehran and Delilah's, and he has traveled and studied percussion extensively throughout the Arab world and Iran. He has also performed with Armenian and Greek groups as well as Balkan ensembles. Mark won a Grammy in 2005 on the compilation album "Beautiful Dreamer - Songs of Stephen Foster". Mark plays darbuka (Arabic), toumbak (Persian), davul or tabl beledi, cajon, and tambourine (riqq) and frame drums.

Helm specializes in acoustic music from the rich traditions of Middle Eastern music. For greater variety and texture, an oud (lute), qanun (plucked zither), additional percussion, and violin can be added. Helm's music has been used in sound tracks for movies and television and has been an integral part of the American Tribal Style movement (ATS®) throughout the world.

Helm has performed at over 30 Northern and Southern Renaissance Faires in California, numerous times at the renown San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, and internationally in La Réunion, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, England, France, Italy, Spain, Slovenia, Belgium, Sweden, and Poland.

We have sound equipment for smaller venues if acoustic is insufficient. However, for larger events a sound system will need to be provided. In this case, equipment needs depend on the number of musicians hired. For example, four musicians would require at most 6 microphones, three DI boxes, and four chairs without arms.

Refreshments for the band, especially if we are playing multiple sets or need to arrive more than hour before we start.

Green room appreciated but not necessary unless musicians required to be in costume.