Biography
Steve Shehan and Baly Mebarek Othmani merged an array of musical traditions on their 1997 joint release Assarouf. Shehan infused the project with traces of his Cherokee and Irish lineage, while Othmani drew from his forebears’ nomadic Tuareg origins. Fluent in at least 14 languages, Shehan handles more than 500 percussion instruments in addition to flamenco and jazz guitar, keyboards, bass, and piano; he is chiefly recognized for producing or co-producing upwards of 200 albums, among them projects involving Brian Eno, the Gypsy Kings, Vangelis, and Herbie Hancock. Algeria-born Othmani performs on the oud and sings in the historic language of Tamachek. Their partnership generated a style that wove together these contrasting heritages.
Albums
