Search - Sheikh Hamza Shakkur, The Al-Kindi Ensemble :: Whirling Dervishes of Damascus

Syrian whirling dervishes

RICHARD JENKINS | FRANKSTON Australia | 07/02/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"THIS IS AN EXCELLENT ALBUM STARTING OFF WITH A BEAUTIFUL CALL TO PRAYER.THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE ACCUSTOMED TO THE MUSIC OF THE WHIRLING DERVISHES OF TURKEY WILL FIND THIS VERY DIFFERENT,THE MUSIC IS IN THE STYLE OF ARAB MAQAM RATHER THAN TURKISH,THE ARAB NEY FLUTE HAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SOUND TO THAT OF TURKEY & ON THIS ALBUM KETTLE DRUMS ARE REPLACED BY HAND HELD TAMBOURINES.THE VOCALS ARE SUBLIME ESPECIALLY DURING THE DHIKR & ALTOGETHER THE OVERALL SOUND IS VERY RICH & EXOTIC.IT IS NICE TO HEAR THE QANUN(ZITHER) EMPHASIZED,ESPECIALLY THE SOLO INSTRUMENTALS.SHEIKH HAMZA SHAKKUR HAS A BEAUTIFUL MOVING VOICE.THIS CD SHOULD INTEREST ANYONE WHO IS SERIOUS ABOUT SUFI MUSIC."

A real class act... Sufi music at its most perfect

Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 01/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Beautifully packaged, with classy, luscious graphic design and copious, highly informative liner notes, this handsome 2-CD set presents some of the world's greatest Sufi music from one of the most revered modern ensembles, the Ensemble Al-Kindi of Damascus, Syria. Sufi worshippers and fans of world music alike will find these albums quite compelling -- the music is drenched in transcendant, ecstatic spirituality, quite heartfelt and melodically rich. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."