Search - Rabih Abou-Khalil :: Morton's Foot

For more than a decade, Lebanese oud master Rabih Abou-Khalil has infused traditional Arabic music of all stripes with elements of modern music from around the world, most notably jazz. Morton?s Foot, Abou-Khalil's 13th album, doesn't flavor its Arabic melodies and rhythms with electronic programming. Instead, Abou-Khalil's fusion is done much in the same way that jazz musicians have embraced Klezmer or Indian music: it uses top-flight musicianship instead of beats and sounds to build the bridges. Here, the leader plays lengthy leads on oud that concentrate on rhythm just as much as melody as a five-piece support cast (drums, accordion, vocals, tuba, clarinet) follows his every twist and turn. Sometimes one leaps ahead to solo on their own, with clarinetist Gabriele Mirabassi and tuba player Michel Godard both doing yeoman's work. A uniformly strong effort by a truly unique innovator, Morton's Foot is ideal listening for fans who put free-ranging musicianship and innovation at a premium. ? Tad Hendrickson