ARJON’S TO FEATURE FUSION MUSICIANS

Andy and Shani will play tonight at Arjon’s International Club

She’s from Arkansas, but she’s into the fusion of hip-hop, dance and Latin grooves.  Her name is Shani and she’s been blending genres since she moved to Los Angeles in the mid ‘80s. 

“When I came to L.A., which is a total melting pot, I was really inspired by the whole melting pot factor here.  We have such a strong Latin influence (here),” she said.  “You guys in San Antonio have probably more of an international edge than I did in Arkansas growing up, but when I came to California, I was really inspired by the whole melting-pot factor here.

“I also fell into the Persian community here in L.A., which is a very strong community,” she said.  “And I was asked to start working in the nightclubs, and that led me to start working with some of the most prominent exiled Middle Eastern artists, who had made Los Angeles kind of their new base.”

Shani will showcase her musical fusions tonight at Arjon’s International nightclub when she tag-teams with the international pop singer Andy.  Tickets cost $30.  Call (210) 849-5250.

Shani quickly became part of the artists who toured internationally from their L.A. base, including Arab starts such as Cheb Khaled, Andy and Hakeem.  Like Andy, she also began recording Spanish language tunes.  Shani’s latest CD, “At the Casbah,” on the Sony/BMG label blends pop, hip-hop, dance and jazz.

A tune from the CD, “El Llamar de Pasion – Call of the Wild,” was featured in the Oscar-winning film “Crash.”  Shani also played a singer in “One Night with the King,” featuring Omar Sharif and Peter O’Toole, and “House of Sand and Fog,” featuring Ben Kingsley and Jennifer Connelly.