RABIH ABOU-KHALIL

RABIH ABOU-KHALIL
ARABIAN WALTZ (1996)
320 KBPS

With each album Lebanese expatriate Rabih Abou-Khalil employs a different ensemble and experiments with diffect effects. On "Arabian Waltz" Abou-Khalil brings aboard a classical string quartet (two violins, viola, cello) led by Roumanian Alexander Balenescu. Abou-Khalil plays his usual oud (Mideastern lute) and is joined by a surprisingly effective tuba-player and his usual Mideastern/Indian percussion. The mixture is graceful, powerful and novel. This is my favorite of the five Abou-Khalil albums I own and I would recommend it to anyone interested in jazz, classical or world music.

1. Arabian Waltz
2. Dreams Of A Dying City
3. Ornette Never Sleeps
4. Georgina
5. No Visa
6. The Pain After