The Whole Music Experience

Wahid Road Poem Independent  Wahid (Dimitris Mahlis, oud and Chris Wabich, percussion), features a semi-contemporary approach to Middle Eastern oud and Turkish maqam (classical scales and melodies) on the live recording Road Poem .   When I first read about the musicians’ rock and jazz backgrounds, I wasn’t sure what sound to expect.   Too modern of a sound and I would have felt turned off, but when this type of music is played with reverence combined with a pioneering spirit, the result is often mesmerizing.   The playing sounds mature as the musicians wed “Byzantine modes and Turkish maqams” (press notes), on seven original songs.   The album release date is September 25, followed by a tour TBA at www.rockpaperscissors.biz   (Note: This is an unsolicited CD and my policy is that I only review solicited CDs, due to time constraints.  I thought Road Poem was worth a mention so it has a short review).

The Touré-Raichel Collective The Tel Aviv Session Cumbancha With so many Malian-music collaborations to choose from these days, it is still not a cliché to introduce yet another.  Malian blues guitarist Vieux Farka Touré teams up with Israeli pianist Idan Raichel.  From what I can tell from the press notes, neither musician has collaborated on an acoustic jam session previously that combines the earthiness of Malian music with Middle Eastern modes.  In fact, these musicians are superstars of world pop and rock, but The Tel Aviv Session , sounds more new age than anything else (new age in a good way).  I find this album deeply relaxing alternating with invigorating. On the opening track Azawade, Raichel’s piano arcs over Touré’s bluesy chord progressions, reminding me of angels descending to the red earth.  Backed by Yossi Fine on bass, and Souleymane Kane on calabash, the only other musician that comes to mind is Taj Mahal, who also weds the tr...

The Gurdjieff Folk Instrument Ensemble Led by Levon Eskenian Music of Georges I.   Gurdjieff ECM Many of you reading this review probably have never heard Armenian folk music, though you have heard most of the instruments on Levon Eskenian and The Gurdjieff Folk Instrument Ensemble's recording Music of Georges I. Gurdjieff  if you have listened to traditional music of Iran, Kurdistan, Turkey, and India.   This folk ensemble features the traditional Armenian reed instrument duduk which both Real World Records and World Village have featured on several recordings.   Other instruments that might sound familiar to your ears are the Iranian spiked fiddle (kamancha), the Turkish saz (long-neck lute), the Arabic tombak (drum) and oud, as well as, the dohl drum and santur from India.   To say that Music of Georges I. Gurdjieff falls into exotic territory is an understatement, but the Gurdjieff who studied many spiritual paths, also compose...

Gulizar Turkish Music Ensemble Whirling Dervishes (800 Years of Mevlana Rumi) Arc Music Alan Shavarsh Bardezbanian & His Middle Eastern Ensemble Oud Masterpieces Arc Music When I first started researching spiritual practices and music from those practices one of the images that has stuck with me is that of whirling dervishes. Similar to flowers opening up in midst of a whirlwind, a dance that starts out slow and picks up speed until it mesmerizes, whirling dervishes capture the attention of the poet at heart. Whirling dervishes, an aspect of the Sufi sect of the Muslim religion, is greatly influenced by the poetry of the Great Sufi Mystic Poet, Mevlana Rumi. Similar to the early Franciscans of the Christianity, Sufis also lived a bare bone existence during the era of Rumi. Their quest was to unite with God through music, dance, and poetry. The Gulizar Turkish Music Ensemble led by kanun virtuoso Tahir Ayodgdu, captures the essence of whirling dervishes and the medie...