In review--The Taarab of Tanzania
Culture Musical Club Shime! World Village Although Tanzanian taarab music is not completely new to my ears, I had to give Culture Musical Club’s Shime a few listens before reviewing it. So far the recording has captured the hearts of international music reviewers, including writers with New York Times, Chicago Tribune and the English music publication, Songlines. The music itself resembles Egyptian cinematic music with its Arabic modes, scales and rhythms. The instrumentation proves intriguing by combining North African-Arabic percussion, zither, double bass, oud, violin, and driving accordion, topped off with hearty vocals—both male and female. It’s ironic that during this post 911 era world music audiences and even a broader audience have been exposed to music with Arabic roots and Muslim cultural influences. Usually as peace and cultural exchange efforts, labels and concert promoters have brought music of Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and other Muslim dominant countries to our ...