Anouar Brahem - The Astounding Eyes of Rita - 2009

Delightful new project, assembled by Tunisian oud master Brahem with producer Manfred Eicher. Combination of bass clarinet with oud suggests a link to Anouar’s “Thimar” trio, but this East/West line-up often feels closer to the more traditionally-inclined sounds of “Barzakh” or “Conte de l’Incroyable Amour”. Klaus Gesing, from Norma Winstone’s Trio, and Björn Meyer, from Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin, are both players with an affinity for musical sources beyond jazz, and they interact persuasively inside Brahem’s music. A dance of dark, warm sounds, urged onward by the darbouka and frame drum of Lebanese percussionist Khaled Yassine. The album is dedicated to the memory of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish.


ecm 2075
Release Date: 25 September 2009
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Description
“The Astounding Eyes of Rita” introduces a new Brahem group, in a sinuous dance of dark sounds (oud, bass clarinet, bass guitar and hand drums), strong melodies, earthy textures... Where Anouar’s last two recordings – “Le voyage de Sahar”(2005) and “Le pas de chat noir” (2001) - found him at the centre of a trio orientated towards chamber music, with this new recording there is a sense of coming full circle.
This is a modern record but it also carries a sense of traditions, including Brahem’s own, and also reveals affinities with his early releases. There has long been a balance between Western & Eastern components in Brahem’s work, but ratios change with each project, as the work develops. “While I can easily find fantastic traditional players in my region, I often miss qualities specific to European jazz players, a certain open-mindedness in approaches to improvising - aspects to do with freedom”. Anouar plays together here with German bass clarinetist Klaus Gesing and Swedish bassist Björn Meyer [Nik Bartsch] and percussionist Khaled Yassine.

Tracklisting:
* 01 The Lover Of Beirut 7:44
* 02 Dance With Waves 3:56
* 03 Stopover At Djibouti 6:34
* 04 The Astounding Eyes Of Rita 8:41
* 05 Al Birwa 4:51
* 06 Galilee Mon Amour 7:17
* 07 Waking State 7:48
* 08 For No Apparent Reason 6:35

Total duration: 53:31


Anouar Brahem: oud
Klaus Gesing: bass clarinet
Björn Meyer: bass
Khaled Yassine: darbouka, bendir










Enjoy!