Al Tarab Oud Festival (+Book) - Various Artists

Advantages: Mesmerizing, Seductive - Brahem's 1st
Disadvantages: No disadvantages

...musicians, often opting for a trio formation (although he played with 5 musicians on Khomsa). He writes and composes all tracks on his albums and often leaves room for the guest artists to create their own composition or engage in a solo instrumentation. These are all things that make Brahem a truly unique musician and propel him next to master-musicians such as Jan Garbarek and Jean-Michel Pilc. On this album, Anouar plays alongside Bechir Selmi on the violin and Lassad Hosni on percussions. Raf Raf is the opening track. This is basically a solo Oud track by Brahem himself. Two things should catch your attention: his actual Oud technique that is as traditional as it is revolutionary. The other thing is the depth of sound and perfect ECM rendering. The silences sound like they are weeping remnants of the Oud strings and not just bland recording... Read review

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Advantages: Unique flammenco style, beautiful, evocative, scenic
Disadvantages: Absolutely none

...money; this type of recording is unique in the world of folklore and is priceless. If you are aware of Anouar Brahem, then you will find similarities with Thimar (released in 1998 under the ECM label). What you get is 12 tracks, all masterpieces. The album is 59 minutes long approx. The first track kicks in, bonding Moorish chant, Oud, Flammenco and forms of Moorish dancing; all this supported by Rony's percussions. Stephen Dummer brings a jazz feel to the piece too, creating an inimitable fusion. The chemistry works this way throughout the album. Pasion Del Lamento is yet another gorgeous scenery with a supporting voice by Abdul Salam Kheir. Feria kicks in after the sadness with a beaming sunshine, a festive and colourful track that sheds light on an almost out-of-place American-Latin rhythm. It actually refers to the Moors being forced... Read review

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Advantages: Highly Skilled. Refined. Beautiful.
Disadvantages: None

..., it never stops flowing; bringing to life variations and time signatures that defy space and time. Houdouth strums in with elegance, it's instruments like wind on a desert sand. Once again, the combination of rustic and modern Jazz alongside an equally versatile Oud work creates melodies of pure beauty. Talwin is an unfathomable Arabesque. The synchronize bass and oud give birth to a sound so deep that it will spill out of your speakers and project your mind into stupor. Anouar then plucks Gypsy-ish ballad upon this, infinitely sad and evocative. Waqt sounds like a lament. It is a powerful clarinet solo by John Surman. Uns goes back to the deep sound present on Talwin. An interlaced swaying of all 3 instruments, as an escalating plant on sun-bleached stonework. Here, Surman's saxophone is as cavernous as ever. Al Hizam Al Dhahbi sounds like... Read review

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