Jazz & Blues > ECM Jazz & Blues > Jazz Instrument

The incredible Anouar Brahem

Advantages: Superb follow-up to Barzakh, Rich, Inventive
Disadvantages: None

...Barzakh, his amazing debut. In Conte de l'incroyable Amour, Anouar Brahem seems to push his meditative facet even further. In fact, it would be correct to say that this album is an expansion upon Barzakh; an exploration in the geographical and thematical areas of the oeuvre. By now, Anouar has acquired a taste for using space as an instrument. However, Conte de l'Incroyable Amour uses this technique to perfection. Never has silence being used in ...
...beyond words. Pure meditation. Conte de l'incroyable Amour is just as the title suggests: "A Tale of Incredible Love" - A 10 minute ride through gorgeousness where the oud and clarinet are wed in an almost erotic manner. Peshrev Hidjaz Homayoun and Diversion are unique tracks on the album because they feature Kudsi Erguner's nai flute. This really makes them stand out. These 2 tracks were not composed by Anouar Brahem but are neverless masterful. ...

gantzgraf 12.08.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Conte De L'incroyable Amour - Anouar Brahem

An electrifying blend of folklore

Advantages: Unique musical vision. Evocative. Masterful.
Disadvantages: Absolutely None

...In 1995, Brahem would release Khomsa with a total of 5 other musicians. Khomsa would be an epic 6-man formation. Khomsa marks a slight change in the Brahem repertoire. Barzakh and C.D.L.A were both very traditional and geographical in their approach. That being said, these featured influences from all over the world and were groundbreaking pieces of work. Khomsa brings together 13 compositions by Anouar Brahem and 3 by Galliano, Danielsson and ...
...this. Ain Ghazel and Khomsa feel like Jan Garbarek pieces; meticulous time signatures, elegant waves of Galliano's violon. Infinite beauty. Khomsa is very in sync. with what Anouar would do 3 years later, on Thimar. Seule and Nouvelle Vague are beautiful piano-oud collaborations. Ali Louati, profoundly touched by the splendour of Nouvelle Vague, was inspired into creating a poem called Images, based on the sheer power of this track. En Robe d'Olivier ...

gantzgraf 13.08.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Khomsa - Anouar Brahem

The definition of beauty

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

...and Bass-Clarinettist John Surman. Thimar is probably one of the most discussed Jazz albums of all time. The simple "East meets West" tag that the musical press have dumbly stuck onto the album (not literally) is far from providing us with the sheer power that this album actually contains. Thimar has a running time of 54 minutes approx. and this encompasses 11 tracks. The cover and inlay design are by Sascha Kleis, Jim Bengston and Jean-Guy Lathuilière. ...
...point out the fact that Thimar has come to an end; that those 54 minutes have soon passed. It is a typically beautiful composition; another great Surman solo clarinet. Thimar demonstrates how rich and incredibly deep folklore can get. Once heard, you will never forget it. If you like other releases from Anouar Brahem, you can expect the same theatrical beauty from Thimar. If you are new to Brahem, this could actually be a good place to start. ...

gantzgraf 17.08.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Thimar - Anouar Brahem

A Great Archive Let Down By Sequencing

Advantages: Fidelity is great, songwriting, guitar playing and vocals superb, thorough research
Disadvantages: Sequencing - the track order is frustrating

...music fans a like. The Complete Robert Johnson comes across like a standards song book, the contents of which has given birth to numerous cover versions from acclaimed and esteemed bluesmen and rockers from across the globe spanning six decades. There is however, one glaring disappointment with this set and that is with the sequencing. This is the most comprehensive collection of Johnson's material and as such there are alternate takes included. ...
...by side with their original counterparts which makes the whole very hard to listen to as each track is repeated, albeit a variant of the original. It still baffles me as to why the alternates were not on a separate disc from the originals. Even for me, a hardened fan of the genre, it makes for difficult listening if you using an old fashioned CD player. This is a wonderful and comprehensive archive but unfortunately does not work as a listening experience ...

Nixu1980 03.11.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Complete Recordings, The (All 41 Recordings) - Robert Johnson

An Older and Wiser Sequel

Advantages: Great voice, band
Disadvantages: None

...stronger with every listen. Feels Like Home with The Handsome Band and special guests. I am a big fan of Norah Jones. Her first album, Come Away with Me was an absolute classic. The album was certified diamond by the RIAA on February 15, 2005 having sold over 10 million copies in its first three years of release. It won five awards at the Grammy Awards of 2003, including "Record of the Year", "Album of the Year", and "Song of the Year" for "Don't ...
...to an article I read, Feels Like Home is the second album by jazz songwriter Norah Jones, released in 2004. It sold a million copies in the first week of its U.S. release, the first album to do so since Britney Spears' Oops!... I Did It Again (2000) and it was the second best-selling album of 2004, with about 4 million copies sold. It sold 1,920,000 copies on its first week worldwide. Probably the most popular song from the album is track number ...

Spottydog11 29.09.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Feels Like Home - Norah Jones