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Track Listings
| 1. Badhra |
| 2. Kashf |
| 3. Houdouth |
| 4. Talwin |
| 5. Waqt |
| 6. Uns |
| 7. Al Hizam Al Dhahbi |
| 8. Qurb |
| 9. Mazad |
| 10. Kernow |
| 11. Hulmu Rabia |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
At a time when conventional genres are being crashed together by tin-eared producers in a vain attempt to create music with some sort of marketable novelty value, the existence of recordings such as this--and most of them seem to be on ECM, funnily enough, where work of this kind has always gone on at a purely artistic level--is somehow reassuring. That said, this combination of Brahem's oud, Surman's high and low reeds and Holland's bass probably works as well as it does because the Arab influence is allowed to predominate, at least on the more memorable tracks. Individually, Surman has always been interested in non-Western musics and falls easily into his role. Furthermore, despite the fact that he was the member of the trio for whom the music presented the greatest learning curve, Holland's bass playing is as sensitive here as ever, knitting seamlessly into Brahem's lunging, loping melodies, as if they were duetting on a single enormous instrument. Wonderful stuff. --Roger Thomas
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The atmosphere created by this CD is nothing short of incredible. The mix of Western and Middle Eastern styles could have been a disaster, but here seems perfectly natural, and I believe this is due to the restraint in the playing, allowing each instrument to be heard individually and also as a complement to the others. I have a feeling that the musicians knew they were creating something very unique and special as they were recording. I get the same feeling each time I listen.
Accessible, engaging, relaxing, superb.
Accessible, engaging, relaxing, superb.
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I bought this CD when it was first released, hanging around in Oxford Street's Virgin Megastore Jazz department and being over-taken by the sheer cool ambience the music generates.
The mixture of jazz and middle-Eastern influences is wonderful. It's a CD you can put on a low volume and chill-out, or conversely you can crank-it-up to by fully engaged by the soundstage, as the three musicians play bass, wind and strings.
I gave my copy to a friend for his birthday, and I'll now replace it from Amazon.
Buy it. Let it engage you.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Anouar Brahem is an unsung hero of ECM. I have never heard a less than excellent recording from him and each recording is accessible but weighty and rewards repeated listening. This is possibly his most jazzy recording: John Surman's saxophone is at once both Eastern and English in its feel (compare it to the Turkish clarinet on Astrakan Café) and his serene tone in the beginning of the concluding Hulmu Rabia even sounds like the Hilliard Ensemble.
Bill Holland gives a double bass master class. From the very first bowed notes of the opening "Bhadra", which complement Surman's improvisations perfectly, he provides the anchor to "Thimar" with some wonderfully felicitous melodic yet rhythmic playing.
Brahem is such a democrat that at times he can seem to be playing second fiddle (or should that be third oud) to the others ("Waqt" is a Surman solo). However the balance of the three instruments is exemplary, each coming from a different tradition and yet sounding so "simpatico".
Brahem's current trio with Francois Couturier on piano and Jean-Louis Matinier on accordion is equally excellent but this is perhaps the best place for jazzers to begin.
Bill Holland gives a double bass master class. From the very first bowed notes of the opening "Bhadra", which complement Surman's improvisations perfectly, he provides the anchor to "Thimar" with some wonderfully felicitous melodic yet rhythmic playing.
Brahem is such a democrat that at times he can seem to be playing second fiddle (or should that be third oud) to the others ("Waqt" is a Surman solo). However the balance of the three instruments is exemplary, each coming from a different tradition and yet sounding so "simpatico".
Brahem's current trio with Francois Couturier on piano and Jean-Louis Matinier on accordion is equally excellent but this is perhaps the best place for jazzers to begin.
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