RABIH ABOU-KHALIL - Between Dusk and Dawn (1993) APE (image+.cue), lossless

One of Rabih Abou-Khalil's earlier albums, Between Dusk and Dawn features stellar sidemen such as master percussionist Glen Velez and jazz saxophonist Charlie Mariano. In places it exhibits that ecstatic melding of jazz and Arabic music that was later perfected on Blue Camel. But in other places it gives us long patches of noodling and less-then-engaging playfulness. An example of the former would be the first track, "Dusk." At just over 14 minutes, more than half of this piece is devoted to a shapeless and tiresome prelude for percussion and oud (Arabic lute). An example of the latter is the aptly named "The Thing That Came Out of the Swamp," which features everything but the kitchen sink, including Glen Velez's overtone singing, in a fantasy that sounds like Stravinsky crossed with Steve Reich. Yet there are solid, jazzy tracks like "Chess with Mal" which opens with a long but well-formed solo by Charlie Mariano before sax and oud synchronize for one of Abou-Khalil's gloriously rhythmic tunes. Or "Dawn," where Abou-Khalil plays one of his favorite tricks of making it sound as if the melody of the piece grows out of his initial improvisation. Despite the album's lack of overall focus, it does offer a bounty for the ear, especially in the percussion. A disc for fans of one or more of the musicians involved. by Kurt Keefner  
Tracklist:
1    Dusk    14:15
Rabih Abou-Khalil
2    Bat Dance    5:32
Rabih Abou-Khalil
3    Nightfall 6:38
Rabih Abou-Khalil
Flute – Rabih Abou-Khalil
4    Ugo In Love    3:46
Rabih Abou-Khalil
5    Chess With Mal    7:32
Rabih Abou-Khalil
6    The Thing That Came Out Of The Swamp 4:10
Composed By – Armann, Abou-Khalil
Flute – Rabih Abou-Khalil
Marimba – Christian Burchard
Overtone Voice [Overtone Singing] – Glen Velez
Piano – Michael Armann
7    Dawn    5:51
Rabih Abou-Khalil
8    And Finally ... The Oasis    6:53
Rabih Abou-Khalil
Credits:
Bass, Arranged By – Glen Moore
Frame Drum [Middle Eastern Frame Drums], Bodhrán [Bodhran (Irish Frame Drum)], Goblet Drum [Darbukka], Percussion, Arranged By – Glen Velez
Oud, Composed By, Arranged By, Producer, Photography [Cover And Layout] – Rabih Abou-Khalil
Percussion [South Indian Percussion], Thavil [Tavil], Ghatam, Jew's Harp [Mouth Harp], Dholak, Kanjira, Percussion, Arranged By – Ramesh Shotham
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Arranged By – Charlie Mariano