Album Notes

Don Arbor's new release, "Salam Pax (Peace)," features the CD and video of the title track, which is an Official Selection of the 2008 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival, and the 2008 Berkeley Film and Video Festival. The video is also up on Youtube, where it has received "Five Stars" ("Awesome!") ratings. You can find out more at www.donarbor.com.

"Salam Pax (Peace)" was inspired by an Iraqi blogger whose words reached around the world during the 2003 invasion. Writing under the pseudonym of "Salam Pax" to conceal his identity, he posted stories of life in Baghdad as the war descended on his hometown. Salam's insights and sense of humor attracted a worldwide following, and his blog was later published in book form ("Salam Pax: The Clandestine Diary of an Ordinary Iraqi," Grove Atlantic Press).

The release includes a DVD of the Salam Pax video, and a CD of 6 great songs in classic styles that sound like a great set on KFOG, the hometown radio station in San Francisco -- melodic world music on "Salam Pax (Peace)"; Allman Brothers/Dead rock on "Ask Your Doctor"; blues/rock on "Wrong Side;" and even country influence on "Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud."

The band of stellar musicians consists of Stef Burns on lead guitar (from Huey Lewis and the News), Curtis Ohlson on bass (from the Booker T. band), Kevin Hayes on drums (from the Robert Cray band), and Dave Mathews on keyboards (from the Etta James band).

This is Don's second CD, following up on "Postcard from the Mystery Spot," which received nationwide airplay and is also available on CDBaby.