The Art of the Middle East

by Charbel Rouhana

Overview

With the subtitle 'New perspectives on traditional maqams, it's obvious that oud player Charbel Rouhana plans on using the Arabic scales -- known as maqams -- in a slightly different manner. And often he puts them in different contexts, like the Armenian-flavored "Ourakhoutyoun," which bounces around gleefully with an accordion, or "Forward," with its very jazz fusion touches. Inevitably the oud is the prominent instrument throughout, with Rouhana an inventive but thoughtful and imaginative player. He also offer some excellent arrangements for his group, mixing Middle Eastern and Western instruments in an interesting fashion. There's also room for improvisation; on "Rewind," for example, the oud and violin play off each other magnificently. What Rouhana is doing is similar to the path of a few others, but it's all reinventing the tradition, which is necessary for it to move forward. ~ Chris Nickson

Product Details

Release Date:	05/11/2004
Label:	ARC MUSIC
UPC:	5019396186323

Tracks

1. Nara
2. Ajami
3. Mouassal
4. Mayass
5. Manara (Lighthouse)
6. Rewind
7. Forward
8. Li Anni Oughanni
9. Tourism
10. It's Over
11. Samai Rast
12. Ourakhoutyoun (Joy)
13. Wissal
14. Tamrin
15. Again?
16. Ya Ghosna Naqa

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Charbel Rouhana   Primary Artist,Percussion,Vocals,Oud
Abboud El Saadi   Bass (Acoustic)
Albert Rouhana   Tabla
Imane Homsi   Qanoun,Qanoun
Antoine Khalife   Violin
Bassam Saleh   Double Bass
Tania Saleh   Vocals
Rima Khcheich   Vocals
Samir Siblini   Ney
Tony Anka   Tabla
El Khatib, Ali   Riqq

Technical Credits

Charbel Rouhana   Producer,Liner Notes,Composer
Jesse Reuben Wilson   Cover Design
Barbara Papadopoulos   Typesetting,Layout Design
Diz Heller   Liner Notes,Pre-Mastering