World music, with: Osama Adurasol Quintet (Iraq/Belgium), Diab Quintet/Jonathan De Neck (international) and The Gloaming (Ireland).
1- Osama Abdulrasol.
Osama Abdulrasol has been enriching the Belgian and international world music scene with his enchanting playing of the qanun. The melodies on his new album ‘Jedid’ form a bridge from east to west. Osama Abdulrasol’s compositions are clearly embedded in his home town, the former city of Babylon in Iraq, but are enriched with influences from all around the world. With the qanun, vocals, the accordion, cello and percussion, his ensemble shows us the future, a way of blending different backgrounds into a new sound.
CD. ‘Jedid’, Osama Abdulrasol Quintet. Label: Homerecords.be (2016). Video
2- Diab Quintet.
The Diab Quintet is an orchestra around diatonic accordionist Jonathan de Neck, who also wrote all the compositions for their album ‘Seagull Tango’, which demonstrates how well he knows his band and how to let every member shine. You could call this music world fusion, because it entails folk, world music, even some classical chamber music, jazz and improvisations. At the heart of it all are Jonathan De Neck’s magnificent melodies and the swinging, jazzy arrangements and the exiting way the band plays together.
CD. ‘Seagull Tango’, Diab Quintet. Label: Homerecords.be (2016), code: 4446146. Video
3- The Gloaming.
The Gloaming is a modern Irish band, founded in 2011. What the band does to the structures of Irish music is anything but nostalgic. Their lyrics are from recent and ancient history of Irish literature and their music is played in awe of the masters. The group has grown into one of the world most renowned live acts in a short amount of time and play full houses.
CD. ‘The Groaming (2)’ , The Groaming. Label: Realworldrecords/The Groaming (2016), code: CDRW212. Video