The Republic from Columbus, Indiana • Page 24

Ethnic band Traveler gets its tunes from around the globe v) SUbmSMIphdO Ethnic band Traveler at a recent performance. By Brian Blair bbtair therepLiblic.com Scott Je fieri seeks Dew Inspiration for his ethnic musk from the old places. He has stood before the Ephesus Theater in Turkey and pondered those who have gooe before him. He has been awed by the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. And the beauty of Jerusalem, Israel, has stirred his souL "It's great to go to all the ancient ruins and feel the energy, said Jeffers, speaking by phone from his home in Tempe, Ariz.

"It's very overwhelming." And it's great for the leader and songwriter for Traveler, billing itself as an "ethnic fusion band with a world music rock sound and a party atmosphere. It will close the entertainment portion of the annual Ethnic Expo international festival from to 7.30 pm. Saturday downtown. The Cohxmbas Area Arts Council's Tami Sharp saw the group at the South by Southwest Festival Austin, Texas, before about 10.000 people And she knew members would be great here. "They really stuck out, said Sharp.

They're just so high-energy and so much fun that we figured they would be a great way to end Expo, Just before the fireworks." Look at shots of Jeffers jumping around with his vioiia at various online sites and one might consider Traveler a bundle of fireworks all its own. The ensemble often boasts eight members, but five are scheduled for the performance here. Maybe it's the energy from the ancient ruins that Jeffers mentioned. Or perhaps it's the fact that the 40-year-old singer and musician played in kinetic, hard rock and beary metal bands in his younger days. Then again, it could link to the fact that his mother and sister have been belly dancers in his Lebanese family.

Whatever, he now mixes that movement with electric and flamenco guitar, Greek bouzouki (a stringed instrument with a sharp, metallic sound), wind instruments such as the nay and terna, keyboards, finger cymbals, fretless bass and more. Jeffers' vocals can soar effortlessly Eke those in a show tune or offer the straight-ahead emotion of a power-pop number. As a teen, he underwent opera training. He laughed when told that his voice is dramatic. "That's just my style," be said.

"YotfH definitely bear that the sengs." He described the group to be "as hard rock as Led Zeppelin," which be admires. But it's also probably as ethnic as any other entertainment troupe you'll find. like Jeffers, band members regubriy traipse' aH ever the globe searching lor the musical muse In fact, percussionist Kim-beriy Lamtros is from the Greek isles. Drummer Marco Zavala's family is from Mexico. ting for me" international fesSvaL The group's sound includes influences from Greece, Turkey braet, Ireland and other kxa.es.

VZH; Expo runs from 11 am. toll pm today and Saturday, ram or srjne Traveler performs from 6 to 733 pm Saturday. Expo's food, entertainment, end bsus-V urfcfcSs atong First and Washington str3. Corx -c-" st 375- 2tZ2 or Ck-s -sa GouncJ at Z7o-2ZZ3. "We kind of feel like pioneers with our sound," said Jeffers.

"But we sometimes have worried that someone was going to come along, bear our musk, and then say, 'Hey wa can do and then take it on to be really big." In mainstream music, he and banrimatrs were impressed with Sting's ethnic-style hit, "Desert Rose from a few years ago. And the group has rubbed shoulders with noted mainstream acts, opening far artists such as the Black Crowes. JefXers thinks about that impact and regularly recalls the voice of his father years ago begging him to pursue more practical dreams. Today, be sees Lis son sometimes signing autographs after a show. "He knows now, said Jeffers, -that his advice just wasn't fit- Erfan Cialr WHO: Traveler, an Araona-based elrnc band performing at tTric Expo 1.