Tunisian oud master Anouar Brahem has released, Blue Maqams. The CD features Brahem with bassist Dave Holland, drummer Jack DeJohnette and pianist Django Bates. Although Brahem has never had ambitions to be a jazz player, he has long felt a sense of solidarity with the music’s practitioners. The aesthetics of jazz are very different than Arab music, but both share a spontaneity that allows musicians to freely express themselves through improvisation. Holland’s steady pulse can follow the harmonic structure in any direction the improvisation travels, pair that with DeJohnette’s sensitive and subtle drumming and Bates intuitive accompaniment and the result is Brahem’s melodic solos are sonic works of art. The four balance a faithfulness to Brahem’s written parts with soaring improvisational freedom. So that’s the short of it.
Positives: Blue Maqams is an album that is focused on storytelling. It is a sonic journey that is developed throughout the album, with peaks, valleys and surprises in plot and colors. Overall though, the album is contemplative and spiritual in nature and highly original in its combining of sounds of Tunisia, Turkey and Morocco with Western jazz accents.
Bottom Line: Best ECM album this year, period. Brahem’s playing is passionate, sensual and straight to the point. Holland sets a groove that brings energy and space into perfect balance. DeJohnette is felt in this setting and never overshadows the subtleties of the oud. Bates expresses a deep understanding of Brahem’s musical story, and their interactions are splendid. This is world-jazz at its best!
Positives:
Blue Maqams is an album that is focused on storytelling. It is a sonic journey that is developed throughout the album, with peaks, valleys and surprises in plot and colors. Overall though, the album is contemplative and spiritual in nature and highly original in its combining of sounds of Tunisia, Turkey and Morocco with Western jazz accents.
Bottom Line:
Best ECM album this year, period. Brahem’s playing is passionate, sensual and straight to the point. Holland sets a groove that brings energy and space into perfect balance. DeJohnette is felt in this setting and never overshadows the subtleties of the oud. Bates expresses a deep understanding of Brahem’s musical story, and their interactions are splendid. This is world-jazz at its best!