The Baghdad Rain Project is a group of musicians who have collaborated on a CD entitled "A Call To Heal," which consists of 13 original songs relevant to events in the Middle East. These songs, which include elements of Eastern and Middle Eastern music, attempt to empathize with all parties involved in the conflicts of the region.

We began recording in the fall of 2005. One of our early sessions involved Rahim AlHaj, an outstanding Iraqi oudist. Rahim studied at the Institute of Music in Baghdad (now destroyed) under the legendary musician, Munir Bashir. Rahim received a Grammy nomination this year for his Smithsonian Folkways release - "When the Soul Is Settled."

Ann Marie Calhoun (violin) is featured throughout the CD. She has recorded or performed with a number of well known artists, including the Dave Matthews Band, Ringo Starr, Dave Stewart, Steve Vai and Jethro Tull.

Kevin Sites, veteran war correspondent and author of "In the Hot Zone: One Man, One Year, Twenty Wars," contributed liner notes for the CD.