Alvin Atkinson plays the drums during a workshop for local children in Afghanistan

The Cultural Programs Division has established a new and special musical tour program called Musical Overtures to promote mutual understanding and to strengthen America’s ties with nations involved in or recovering from conflict, or facing other challenges. Musical Overtures musicians are flexible and understand the limitations involved with travel, venues, and security issues in these regions. They have considerable experience in education and professional performance, as well as experience working with U.S. Missions abroad through other programs, such as The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad.

The jazz group Alvin Atkinson and the Sound Merchants traveled to Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Armenia in March and April 2009 in the inaugural tour of the program. The band performed concerts, often with local musicians, at the base of the Great Ziggurat of Ur in southern Iraq, at the Al-Rasheed Hotel in Baghdad, and in front of packed crowds throughout Afghanistan. The group also conducted many workshops for local children, master classes and other outreach programs.