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Friday, December 21, 2007

Nassim Maalouf - Improvisations Orientales (Club Du Disque Arabe, 1994) *****

My recent review of Ibrahim Maalouf's "Diasporas", made me search for his father's Nassim Maalouf's "Improvisations Orientales" from 1994, the first solo trumpet CD with his quartertone trumpet, and of which I now found a copy. For this trumpet he added a fourth valve, half the length of the second valve, which is played by the index finger of his left hand. On this CD he demonstrates how Arabic scales or "maqamat" can be played with the trumpet. But the record brings more than just a demonstration. It brings music of a purity seldom heard. If you like Frank London's Invocations, you may like this one even more; it does with Arabic music what London did for jewish prayer songs, turning it into a moving solo trumpet incantation. Most of the music is very spiritual, slow, melancholy and sad, but luckily some dances are included as well, breaking the monotony. On some tracks he is accompanied by Adel Chams Eddine on frame drums. His playing is exceptional, and so is the music.



Download here.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

hi steph,

I would love to know how you managed to get this CD in this particular edition ???

I browsed "all the net" trying to find a CD (*), once published under Club du Disque Arabe... and it seems to be hell of unfoundable.

If you have a hint, thanks for telling me.

Stad
(top 1000 commentator on Amazon.fr)

* the CD I'm seeking for is Sabah Fakhri : "Eski el Itash"

Stef said...

You can send me an e-mail. Check my profile for the details. If you want I can get you a copy.

stef

Stef said...

Stad,

Maybe you won't read this after so many months, but the album is called "ISQI'L ITACH", and I found it here for 10 euro
http://www.priceminister.com/offer/buy/56453093/Sabah-Fakhri-Isqi-l-Itach-33-Tours.html

But apparently, it was never released on CD, it only exists on vinyl.

All the best
stef

Tommy said...

Hi!
Long shot, I know, it’s been more than 13 years since the review, but does anybody know where I can find a copy of Nassim Maalouf’s “Improvisations Orientales” cd?
Would love to get my hands on a physical copy of this album, it’s truly sublime.

All the best,
Tommy