Search - Toufic Farroukh :: Ali on Broadway

Unpleasant surprise.

Jan P. Dennis | 02/26/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I have to admit that I was disappointed with the album. I had heard his album, Drab Zeen, and immediately considered it one of my favorites. I bought this CD with similiar expectations, but the two are quite different. This is an older album and I feel he was still developing as an artist. I do recommend it, but it is not close to the caliber of Drab Zeen. I hope this helps."

More jazzy--and less mannered--than Drab Zeen

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 04/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Don't get me wrong; Drab Zeen is one of my favorites--but I like Ali on Broadway even better. Yes, it's older. Yes, it's a remix of a previously released disc of the same name. But compared to Drab Zeen, it's jazzier, less dance-trance-club oriented, with more organic and less static beats, more improv, fewer vocals, and better songs. It'll probably be less successful as well.Comparisons?It's in a similar mold to Dhaffer Youssef's great disc, Digital Prophesy, and Claude Chalhoub's excellent eponymous disc. But what it really reminds me of is bandmate Rita Marcotulli's fabulous disc, Koine. Just a cut below each of these masterful discs, Ali on Broadway is still eminently worth checking out.4 and 1/2 stars."