JAAFAR, A Middle Eastern Jazz/Arabic Funk Fusion ensemble originating from the Raleigh/Durham Triangle of North Carolina. Bandleader & bassist Robert Troy Cole embarked on a musical & spiritual journey through Eygpt in 2000. While emersed in the local culture, Troy explored musical territory that combined his love of American Jazz improv. & Funk Fusion with traditional Middle Eastern musical themes. There is a spiritual & meditative, Middle Eastern philosophy in the music of Jaafar. The bands "Acoustic Form" represents these sensibilities, while Jaafar's "Electric Form" exhibits a raw power & beauty, that is at times energetic, explosive & yet sensitive & subtle. JAAFAR demonstrates a musical willingness to push themselves and their audience to unforeseen destinations. They expertly fuse traditional Arabic melodies, classical Indian concepts of composition , North African rhythmic grooves, and pure American Jazz & "old-school Funk" to produce the unique soundscape that is Jaafar. Jaafar incorporates the Middle Eastern techniques of melodic improvisation with the Jazz styles of John Coltrane, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jonas Hellborg, Shakti and others. The groups percussionist have global influences that travel rhythmically from West Africa to Turkey through India & the West.