Tunesia – Chants & danses | Astrakan café – Anouar Brahem | Ghalia Benali sings Om Kalthoum. Producer Cobie Ivens
I. Tunesia – Chants & danses. 19:19 min.
Tunisia has a rich tradition of music and dance, which are often intertwined. There are many different forms of Tunisian music and dance, depending on the region and the occasion.
In general, Tunisian music is often melodic, with much use of string instruments, percussion and singing. Dance is often rhythmic and dynamic, with many different movements and formations. CD. Tunesië – Chants & danses. LABEL: Arion ARN (1992), code: 64108. VIDEO
II. Tunisian ud player Anouar Brahem. 19:46 min.
He has brought about a revolution. Instead of using the ud as an accompanying instrument, Brahem elevates this Arabic lute type to a solo instrument. His playing is very innovative: his music falls in the twilight zone between Arabic music and jazz. Elegance and transparency and a masterful control of the instrument are part of Anouar Brahem’s personal style. On the album Astrakan Café he forms a trio with clarinetist Barbaros Erköse and percussionist Lassad Hosni. Barbaros Erköse, who comes from a Turkish gypsy family, has a perfect feel for Anouar Brahem’s lute playing: the timbre of a clarinet is the ideal accompaniment for a lute. Turkish percussionist Lassad Hosni knows exactly how to find the balance between accompaniment and musical ideas. Together they reach great heights in improvisation. CD. Astrakan café – Anouar Brahem, Barbaros Erkose, Lassad Hosni. LABEL: ECM Records (2000), code: 1594942. VIDEO
III. Ghalia Benali sings Om Kalthoum. 20:18 min.
For the album, this Tunisian-born singer meets the Egyptian singer Om Kalthoum, the object of an incomparable cult for 50 years. Ghalia’s beautiful warm voice Ghalia Benali fits perfectly with the music of Om Kalthoum, the virtuoso accompanists (Moufadhel Adhoum on ud, Vincent Noiret on double bass and Azzedine Jazouli on Arabic percussion) give depth to the whole, but also deliver a very different sound image than Om Kalthoum, who was usually accompanied by a large orchestra. Ghalia Benali does not want to measure herself with this diva, but rather wants to bring the overwhelming emotion of these profound and authentic songs back to life. CD. Ghalia Benali sings Om Kalthoum. LABEL: Music & Words (2010), code: MWCD 3038. VIDEO
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