San Francisco-based Jef Stott is a DJ, producer, and multi-instrumentalist whose focus on world music and global grooves has established him on the world stage. He is also a trained anthropologist. Along these lines, he's made in-depth academic studies of Middle Eastern music and instruments. His oud instructor was the famed composer and oud master Hamza el Din. Stott is also a proficient guitarist, bassist, percussionist, and keyboardist. He made his solo recording debut for Six Degrees in 2007 with the EP Souk Sonik, and followed it with the full-length Arab-music and beats-drenched Saracen in 2008. Arcana, his tenth album overall and his third for the label under his own name, was released in the spring of 2012. ~ Thom Jurek