Jazz improvisation, syncopated beats and counter-culture attitudes have been swinging in the Arab world since the early twentieth century. This Rough Guide explores today’s thriving scene, revealing how blending jazz and Arabic music has created the most beautiful of musical concoctions.

For more information, visit www.worldmusic.net/arabicjazz

The Rough Guide To Arabic Jazz
This Rough Guide travels the Arab world exploring the depth and range of jazz interpretations heard across the region’s many nations and cultures. 

Lebanon’s rich musical melting pot is to thank for many of the tracks on this album. Haunting track ‘Harrama el-Nawma’ is by Rima Khcheich, a singer from Khiam in the south of the country. Lebanese trumpeter and composer Ibrahim Malouf’s ‘Nomade Slang’ is anchored by an undulating double-time drum pattern with sharp stinging horn lines and inquisitive rising bass figures. Another Beirut-born musician, Rabi Abou-Khalil, contributes the track ‘A Better Tomorrow’ with his masterful oud bringing out a slinky, seductive flavour with brushed drums and a languorous wind solo. ‘Masâr’ by Le Trio Jourban also spotlights the iridescent delicacy of the stringed oud. 

Ahmad Kaabour is also from Lebanon and a prominent cultural figure in the Middle East: his 1975 hit ‘Oundaikom’ became the anthem of the Palestinian struggle. ‘Abou Afif’ was released in 2012 and is a peppy, almost saccharine number that encapsulates the feel of modernist 1970s jazz. 

Daramad count in the proceedings with the track ‘Tigris Eye’. The band’s line-up features a mix of Persian and Australian musicians allowing them to create a delicate musical dialogue. 

Karim Ziad is an Algerian jazz percussionist, guitarist and gumbri (Moroccan bass lute) player. Omar Faruk Tekbilek was born of Turkish and Egyptian parents and currently resides in America. ‘Dark Eyes’ is inspired by Sufi devotional music and ambient electronica. Maurice El Medioni stirs a potent punch with Cuban percussionist Roberto Rodriguez on closing track ‘Ana Ouna’.

Jazz is still pulsing through the veins of Arabic homelands and this Rough Guide offers up an insight in to the scene. 


Hijaz: Chemsi (taken from the album The Rough Guide To Arabic Jazz)

Feel El Neel Ft. Nathalie Saba "7AT 2EEDOH" - "فيل النيل "حط إيده

Enver Sadiqov and "Qaytagi" ensemble performs "Fresca" of Rafig Babayev

Enver Sadiqov and "Qaytagi" ensemble - Fresca

Emil Afrasiyab https://soundcloud.com/emil-afrasiyab

Emil Afrasiyab - Spring's here (Live in Strasbourg)

Jamil Amirov feat. Mirjavad Jafarov - The night has gone (live)

Maciek Pysz - "A View" - upcoming solo guitar album 

Maciek Pysz - Guitar

A View

Maciek Pysz - "Sketch #4: Under Water"

http://www.maciekpysz.com 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maciek_Pysz


Originally from Poland but living in London ( later in Paris) since 2003, Maciek Pysz is a guitarist and composer known for his clear lyrical phrasing, his virtuosity, and his imaginative cinematic compositions. To date, he has released three albums as a leader, three as co-leader and has participated on six albums as a sideman.  He has worked with musicians such as Richard Galliano, Daniele di Bonaventura, Tim Garland, Ola Onabule, Francois Arnaud, Ivo Neame, Asaf Sirkis and Yuri Goloubev to name a few and has appeared in festivals (e.g. London Jazz Festival, Brecon Jazz Festival) and clubs (e.g. Pizza Express Jazz Club, Vortex) in the UK, Poland, France, and Italy. Maciek released a duo album "Coming Home" (Caligola Records) with ECM artist Daniele di Bonaventura in October 2017. He tours widely with Inwardness, a trio from France, appearing at festivals in Europe and at Manchester Jazz Festival in 2017. Inwardness released its debut album in May 2018 on a prestigious German label Ozella Music. Pysz released his brand new solo guitar album "A View" in October 2019  (Caligola Records). The album received praise from critic John Arnett (London Jazz News) "If you find yourself in need of something uplifting and tranquil at the moment - and who doesn't - this could be the very thing. Highly recommended!".
 
His debut album "Insight" (33Jazz) features Yuri Goloubev and Asaf Sirkis, and ECM artist Daniele di Bonaventura appears on his second album, "A Journey." This album, released on Dot Time Records, received several 4-star reviews, including one from Ian Mann who wrote: "Pysz is a quiet virtuoso who has developed into one of the most distinctive guitarists around". In May 2017 he released a duo album London Stories (33Jazz) with guitarist Gianluca Corona which received a 5-star review from Lance Liddle "There won't be many if any, better guitar albums either side of the Atlantic this year." *****
 
Pysz has toured the UK on major funded tours to support the release of his albums and received a Grant for the Arts from Arts Council England on four occasions, and Jazz Services awards for recording and touring.
 
Of his live performances, one critic referred to the "refreshingly clean, quicksilver beauty of Maciek Pysz's guitar". As well as being a leader of his own groups, Pysz works with many artists in the UK and Europe including the Julian Costello Quartet. He is endorsed by GLB Sound Amplification Lutherie and AER Amps.