Search - Rabih Abou-Khalil :: Sultan's Picnic

An amazing cd!!!

Tal | Raanana, Israel | 08/31/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a recording of a large ensemble with musicians from a wide range of backrounds who seem to share two charachteristics:
professionalism and open-mindedness. The compositions are intricate melodically and very challenging rhythmically, yet the complexity of the music is just a bed on which great emotional expeditions are taken as the performers improvise their solos.
There is a distinctive sound to the recording that is made up of very tight and almost ferentic ensemble playing blending in with the 'sedativeness'one may find on softer parts of the music.
Being a student of Indian classical music, Rabih Abou Khalil's fusion here reminds me of an equally exiting group twenty years ago called Shakti. If the analogy means anything to you, you would know that this is a 'must-have' cd.
This is not just another cd to your collection, this is truly an experiance both spiritually and intellctually."

A big disappointment

Michael Stauch | 01/12/2000

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Rabih Abou-Khalil teams up with some impressive jazz musicians, including Steve Swallow and Kenny Wheeler, but the result is a treacly mishmash that is uninteresting from both perspectives -- Middle Eastern and jazz. Abou-Khalil has put out some wonderful albums -- I love "Roots and Sprouts" and "Tarab" -- but this one is to be avoided."

Perfect fusion between cultures

Michael Stauch | Ushuaia, tierra del fuego Argentina | 07/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is without doubt one of the best works of Rabih Abou-Khalil. All the musicans are given their best. Mark Nauseef with his unique drum style, Howard Levy who grants with the harmonica the expresive range of Marianos saxophone or Kenny Wheelers trumpet. A very exciting and harmonious music creation."