Haitian Beatz

If you're a rigid respecter of musical boundaries, you may be inclined to steer clear of Haitian-American composer/violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain. On the other hand, a dose of his wide-ranging style might be

the perfect medicine to break down some mental barriers.

Roumain, better known by the moniker DBR, has a résumé that at first glance seems bewilderingly diverse. He's presented chamber and orchestral works at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, and he has a forthcoming major commission with the Sphinx Consortium, a coalition of symphonies including Nashville's. He's also collaborated with composer Philip Glass, singer Cassandra Wilson, brainiac turntablist DJ Spooky and avant-jazz standout David S. Ware. He even accompanied Lady Gaga recently on American Idol.

Confused yet? Well, his work is often categorized as classical/hip-hop fusion, though it clearly integrates a broader spectrum than that summary suggests.

DBR will make several visits to Nashville this academic year as visiting composition professor at the Blair School of Music, where he is an alumnus. This week's trip includes a Thursday concert/discussion featuring his music alongside that of Blair faculty composers and a Saturday performance of his recent Darwin's Meditation for the People of Lincoln.