On Shri Durga, the rhythm tracks are an intricate blend of taped sounds, Indian tabla drums and DJ beats. Sabbah's lifelong interest in theater. In touring the world with The Living Theatre, based in New York and Europe, and then with Tribal Warning Theatre in San Francisco, he found himself constructing soundtracks that were cued very precisely to theatrical movements. And there was another important lesson to be learned from his theater experience. The Living Theatre always asks why, and for whom.
Audience participation is so important.
So for me, deejaying is theater. It's less about what is cool, and more about opening a doorway to another tradition, another world. Sabbah has continued to spin discs regularly at Nickie's in San Francisco, celebrating his 10th anniversary there in late 1998. Since 1990, he has also produced concerts in the San Francisco area as part of his groundbreaking 1002 Nights Live series. At these events, Cheb I Sabbah spins and mixes visuals which thematically link the performers to their cultures, creating an all-embracing environment where people succumb to the sway of sights and sounds.