AL Di MEOLA — World Sinfonia (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Comparing early Al di Meola dates like Land of the Midnight Sun and Casino to his albums of the 1990s, it's clear how much his playing has softened. The exceptional World Sinfonia, an entirely acoustic CD, makes it clear that what hasn't changed is his unpredictable, spontaneous nature. Di Meola's right-hand man throughout this highly introspective date is the soulful bandonean player Dino Saluzzi, with whom he enjoys an undeniably strong rapport. A long-time lover of world music, di Meola incorporates South American, Spanish, and Middle Eastern elements, and makes Argentine tango a very high priority. The improvisor's reverence for Argentina's musical heritage is especially evident on Astor Piazzola's haunting "Tango Suite" and di Meola's soul-bearing ode to the tango legend, "Last Tango for Astor." But World Sinfonia's standout track and most pleasant surprise of all is a 12-minute interpretation of Chick Corea's 1975 Return to Forever classic "No Mystery," which works quite well in an acoustic setting. Alex Henderson

Tracklist :

1. Perpetual Emotion 3:30

2. Orient Blue 2:57

3. Tango Suite Part I 8:49

4. Tango Suite Part III 8:50

5. Falling Grace 4:21

6. Last Tango For Astor 6:20

7. No Mystery 12:37

8. Lustrine 9:12

9. Little Cathedral 1:45

10. La Cathedral 4:37

Credits :

Al Di Meola - Acoustic Guitars

Dino Saluzzi - Bandoneon

Arto Tuncboyacian - Percussion, Voice

Gumbi Ortiz - Congas, Percussion
Chris Carrington - Classical Guitar

JOE ZAWINUL — The ESC Years (2011) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist & Credits :

JOE ZAWINUL — Zawinul : Stories of the Danube (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Billed as Joe Zawinul's First Symphony, this large-scale classical work may seem like a radical departure to the composer/keyboardist's jazz and pop fans, but it is really a logical expression of Zawinul's indestructible European roots. Moreover, it is not as alien to his jazz work as one might suppose; at times, one can hear trademark Zawinul ostinato lines in fleshed-out, orchestrated form, and rhythms and tunes of his jazz-rock days ("Doctor Honoris Causa," "Pharoah's Dance" "Unknown Soldier") turn up like old friends crashing a black-tie ceremony. The storyline of the work is a spinoff of Smetana's "The Moldau," tracing the path of a river from its springhead through Central Europe and the deep historical currents (the Ottoman Empire, Vienna's Golden Age, World War II, etc.) that its journey suggests. Zawinul's own keyboards appear most noticeably in the brooding Third Worldish introductions to the fourth and seventh movements, and the Czech State Philharmonic Orchestra, Brno under Caspar Richter handles the long symphonic writing smoothly. At 63 minutes, this piece is a real stretch -- Zawinul is dealing with a Brucknerian timespan -- and skillful orchestrator, composer and boundless eclectic that he is, he can't quite fill the huge tapestry consistently. Yet repeated listening reveals a coherent if loose overall structure and some emotional depth; if you work at it, the rewards will come. Richard S. Ginell   Tracklist & Credits :

JOE ZAWINUL — My People (1996) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

If one must indulge in categories, My People, featuring the Zawinul Syndicate and a United Nations coterie of guests, probably belongs on the vast world music shelf, the links to so-called jazz now so tenuous as to be nearly, but not quite, invisible. On the percolating "Slivovitz Trail," "Orient Express," "Many Churches," and the Caribbean-tinged cleverly titled "In an Island Way," the music does suggest earlier versions of the Syndicate, and Joe Zawinul's nostalgic evocations of Wayne Shorter on the Korg Pepe reach back even further. Otherwise, Zawinul is looking entirely toward ethnic cultures for musical sustenance. The musical structures are linear, the rhythms full of intricacies welded to Zawinul's love affair with the groove, the synthesizer textures usually sparer than ever. There are vocals in several languages by Zawinul's longtime colleague Salif Keita (for whom Zawinul produced a great album in 1991), Syndicate percussionist Arto Tuncboyaciyan, a throat vocal specialist from South Siberia named Bolot, Thania Sanchez, Zawinul himself, and several others. When translated, the lyrics speak of joy and unity among the cultures, and there isn't any doubt that Zawinul's bubbling music feeds the message of uplift. Hear it; you purists may be jiggling along in spite of yourselves. Richard S. Ginell   Tracklist & Credits :

JOE ZAWINUL & THE ZAWINUL SYNDICATE — Vienna Nights | Live At Joe Zawinul's Birdland (2005) 2xCD | WV (image+.cue), lossless

Considering the stunning array of jazz fusion talent that legendary composer and keyboardist Joe Zawinul has employed as leader of the pioneering Weather Report and his ever-evolving Zawinul Syndicate, our expectations should be raised when he says of his current multi-national lineup, "It's the best band I've ever had." Recorded at his Birdland Club in his hometown of Vienna over two engagements in 2003, this explosive, multi-faceted disc is a wonderful showcase for the largely African-leaning sounds of the current Syndicate. The most fascinating aspect of Zawinul over his decades in the spotlight has been his desire to play it cool in the shadows as he showcases brilliant young talent; he does this immediately here, as African vocal pop star Salif Keita shines on the rumbling, heavy grooving "Y'elena" (which Zawinul originally produced in 1991) and which features an irrepressible groove by drummer Nathaniel Townsley and Linley Marthe, a native of Mauritius who is the latest of the leader's post-Jaco Pastorius bass discoveries. The African express continues on the bubbly "Two Lines," which blends the exotic drumming of Algerian native Karim Ziad and frenetic soloing by the familiar electric guitar genius Scott Henderson. The joyful moodswinging spirit of the rest of the set is summed up in wacky, locomotive jams like "Rooftops of Vienna" contrasted by more mystical, rhythmically varied excursions like "Do You Want Some Tea, Grandpa?" and "Café Andalusia." Zawinul eventually takes more of a spotlight on the Argentine-flavored "Borges Buenos Aires," and pays homage to his jazz roots on a dreamy, impressionistic Ellington classic, "Come Sunday." Zawinul fans will eat this dual set up instantly, but lovers of fusion and world music will come around quickly thereafter. Jonathan Widran
Tracklist & Credits :

PAUL WINTER & THE EARTH BAND - Journey with the Sun (2000) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

For 20 years, new age wind player Paul Winter has headlined world-class audiovisual musical extravaganzas celebrating the summer and winter solstices at New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Most of the contemplative nature of this worldbeat meets new age recording reflects the ambience of the early morning summer celebration, while two songs -- the intensely percussive, Middle Eastern-flavored "Caravan at Dawn" and the mystical "Yabu" -- come from the 1999 winter show that featured Mickey Hart playing RAMU, or Random Access Music Universe (i.e., an incredible array of electronic sounds). The unique spiritual power of the album derives from vocalist Arto Tuncboyacian, an Armenian whose African-sounding guttural vocals utter phrases in "vocables" from his own personal dialect; this is exotic scat singing at its most creative! The mystical "Broken Arm" shows the more heartfelt side of his vocals, and the interesting mood swings continue throughout. The joyous jig-like "Mountain Wedding" features the Uilleann pipes of Davy Spillane, and these pipes are used to more haunting effect on "Pas de Deux." "Singing to the Mountain" is a wistful, folksy tribute to Tuncboyacian's late brother, who was killed in a plane crash in Turkey. by Jonathan Widran  
Tracklist :
1     Caravan at Dawn 6:26
Mickey Hart / Arto Tuncboyaciyan / Paul Winter
2     First Oasis 4:11
Eugene Friesen / Paul Halley / Davy Spillane / Arto Tuncboyaciyan / Paul Winter
3     Broken Arm 6:09
Arto Tuncboyaciyan
4     Mountain Wedding 4:43
Paul Winter
5     Cave of the Winds 5:49
Paul Winter
6     Pas de Deux 2:46
Eugene Friesen / Davy Spillane
7     Singing To The Mountain 4:48
Arto Tuncboyaciyan
8     Middle Oasis 5:26
Eugene Friesen / Paul Halley / Davy Spillane / Arto Tuncboyaciyan / Paul Winter
9     Yabu 5:01
Mickey Hart / Paul Winter
10     Green Grass, It Grows Bonny 5:03
Traditional
11     Last Oasis 4:02
Davy Spillane / Arto Tuncboyaciyan / Paul Winter
12     Land Of The Pipers 5:21
Traditional
13     Oror Bubrik 6:12
Arto Tuncboyaciyan
Credits :
Bass – Eliot Wadopian (faixas: 4, 12)
Cello – Eugene Friesen (faixas: 2 to 4, 6 to 9, 12, 13)
Electronic Drums [Ramu] – Mickey Hart (faixas: 1, 9)
Guitar – Zan McLeod (faixas: 4, 12)
Keyboards – Jim Beard (faixas: 12), Jordan Rudess (faixas: 1, 4, 9), Paul Halley (faixas: 2, 3, 7, 13)
Low Whistle – Davy Spillane (faixas: 2, 3, 7)
Organ [Pipe Organ] – Dorothy Papadakos (faixas: 12), Paul Halley (faixas: 5, 8)
Panpipes [Panflute] – Damian Draghici (faixas: 3, 4)
Percussion – Arto Tuncboyaciyan (faixas: 1, 4, 9, 12)
Performer [Sazabo] – Arto Tuncboyaciyan (faixas: 3, 7, 13)
Piano – Paul Halley (faixas: 4, 10)
Soprano Saxophone – Paul Winter (faixas: 1 to 3, 5, 8, 9, 11 to 13)
Uilleann Pipes – Davy Spillane (faixas: 2, 4, 6, 8, 11), Jerry O'Sullivan (faixas: 12)
Vocals – Arto Tuncboyaciyan (faixas: 1 to 3, 7, 8, 11, 13), Niamh Parsons (faixas: 10, 13)
Written-By – Arto Tuncboyaciyan (faixas: 1 to 3, 7, 8, 11, 13), Davy Spillane (faixas: 2, 6, 8, 11), Eugene Friesen (faixas: 2, 6, 8, 11), Jordan Rudess (faixas: 1), Mickey Hart (faixas: 1, 9), Paul Halley (faixas: 2, 8), Paul Winter (faixas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11)
Zurna – Vardan Grigoryan (faixas: 1) 

MIKE STERN - Voices (2001) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Most of Mike Stern's albums have been 100 percent instrumental; as a rule, he doesn't use vocalists because his guitar does all of the "singing." But Voices is an exception -- a highly engaging and memorable exception. This surprising and totally unexpected effort finds a 48-year-old Stern using wordless vocals in a manner that brings to mind fellow fusion guitarists Pat Metheny and Al DiMeola. Think of Metheny on Letter From Home and Still Life (Talking), or DiMeola on Orange and Blue, and one will know the type of approach that Stern is going for this time. While the wordless vocals that Stern uses on Voices add a lot to the album, his guitar is still the focal point. This isn't the type of project in which the leader brings in an acclaimed jazz singer like Dianne Reeves or Kitty Margolis and features her prominently on standards -- that isn't what he was going for. Ultimately, the vocalists who Stern employs (who include Arto Tuncboyaciyan and Elizabeth Kantomanou) are there to serve and compliment his guitar. If Voices were a cake, the vocalists would be the icing; the album still would have been meaningful even without them, but there's no doubt that they add a lot to it. Voices, which contains some of Stern's most lyrical and melodic playing, is full of world music influences. African and Spanish elements are incorporated, and Brazilian music is an especially strong influence. Going back to the Metheny and DiMeola comparisons, this album's world music influences will inevitably inspire comparisons to similar albums by those fellow fusion guitarists. But Stern is always his own man and his guitar playing never fails to sound distinctive -- Voices is most definitely a Mike Stern session. It's also one of the finest albums in his catalog. by Alex Henderson
1    One World 6:23
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Guitar – Mike Stern
Keyboards – Jim Beard
Percussion – Arto Tuncboyaciyan
Vocals – Elizabeth Kontomanou
Vocals, Bass, Kalimba – Richard Bona
2    The River 6:26
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Guitar – Mike Stern
Keyboards – Jim Beard
Percussion – Arto Tuncboyaciyan
Vocals, Bass – Richard Bona
3    Slow Change 7:13
Bass – Lincoln Goines
Drums – Dennis Chambers
Guitar – Mike Stern
Keyboards – Jim Beard
Percussion – Arto Tuncboyaciyan
Saxophone – Bob Franceschini
4    Wishing Well 6:10
Acoustic Bass – Chris Minh Doky
Acoustic Guitar [12-string ] – Jon Herington
Guitar – Mike Stern
Vocals – Elizabeth Kontomanou, Philip Hamilton
5    Still There 7:30
Bass – Lincoln Goines
Drums – Dennis Chambers
Guitar [Nylon String] – Mike Stern
Keyboards – Jim Beard
Saxophone – Bob Franceschini
6    Spirit 6:35
Bass – Lincoln Goines
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Guitar – Mike Stern
Keyboards – Jim Beard
Percussion – Arto Tuncboyaciyan
Rhythm Guitar – Jon Herington
Saxophone – Bob Franceschini
Vocals – Elizabeth Kontomanou, Philip Hamilton
7    What Might Have Been 5:32
Acoustic Bass – Chris Minh Doky
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Guitar – Mike Stern
Keyboards – Jim Beard
Vocals – Elizabeth Kontomanou
8    Leni´s Smile 5:31
Bass – Richard Bona
Guitar – Mike Stern
Keyboards – Jim Beard
Percussion – Arto Tuncboyaciyan
Vocals – Elizabeth Kontomanou, Philip Hamilton
9    Way Out East 7:04
Bass – Richard Bona
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Guitar – Mike Stern
Keyboards – Jim Beard
Saxophone – Michael Brecker
Vocals, Percussion – Arto Tuncboyaciyan

MIKE STERN - These Times (2004) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Combine the innovative guitar energy of legendary fusion master Mike Stern with old friends (bassist Richard Bona, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta) and new (saxman Kenny Garrett), and anything is bound to happen. But fans expecting raucous swinging and jamming the whole time may be surprised at the subtle lyricism and exotic explorations that define these times for their hero. Yes, his electric is crackling on the hypnotic opener, "Chatter," but it's in the crazy, exotic context of a Middle Eastern vibe inspired by Pakistani great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (look out, Eddie Vedder!). Jim Beard's jumpy piano, Colaiuta's wild, New Orleans groove, and Garrett's swirling lines provide great support. Once Stern and company have the listener's attention, they can become seductive with more intimate affairs like the Joe Zawinul-influenced "Silver Lining," which features an exotic falsetto vocal by Bona, a former Zawinul Syndicate member who also propels the tune with his increasingly muscular basslines. Bona adds the same touch in a gentler way to the lush romance of "I Know You," featuring a soft-spoken harmony line by guest star banjo great Béla Fleck. This sequence of tunes sets the tone of the rest of the disc, which mixes more Khan-flavored gems (the colorful singalong "Mirage," featuring vocals by Elisabeth Kontomanou), soft ballads, and a sexy midtempo funk number that (gasp!) might translate to the smooth jazz format. Another highlight is the punchy bebop number "Remember," dedicated to Stern's longtime collaborator the late Bob Berg. Perhaps the only drawback is having Garrett on hand but only featuring him on three numbers. by Jonathan Widran
Tracklist:
1    Chatter    6:10
Mike Stern
2    Silver Lining    6:34
Mike Stern
3    I Know You    5:06
Mike Stern
4    Mirage    6:44
Mike Stern
5    If Only    5:31
Mike Stern
6    Street Rhyme    6:36
Mike Stern
7    Avenue B    6:13
Mike Stern
8    Remember (For Bob Berg)    6:02
Mike Stern
9    These Times    8:12
Mike Stern
10    What You Believe    6:45
Mike Stern
11    Last One Down    5:30
Mike Stern
Credits:
Lyrics By – Richard Bona (tracks: 5)
Musician – Arto Tuncboyaciyan, Bob Franceschini, Bob Malach, Béla Fleck, Dennis Chambers, Don Alias, Elisabeth Kontomanou, Jim Beard, Jon Herington, Kenny Garrett, Richard Bona, Victor Wooten, Vinnie Colaiuta, Will Lee
Producer – Jim Beard 

MIKE STERN - Trip (2017) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Trip was an album that happened because of Mike Stern's relentless determination to remain Mike Stern. On July 3, 2016, he was hailing a cab when he tripped over some concealed construction debris, broke both arms, and was taken to the hospital. He fractured both humerus bones and was left with significant nerve damage in his right hand, preventing him from accomplishing even the simplest of tasks -- including holding a guitar pick. Following a surgery in which 11 screws were put into his arm, Stern emerged in late October with Chick Corea, playing seated and wearing a black glove outfitted with Velcro attached to a Velcro-fitted pick. A second surgery followed and he gained more control of his nerve-damaged right hand by literally gluing and taping his fingers to a pick. It gradually strengthened his grip, and allowed him to regain his speed and technical precision. The recording of Trip began in January of 2017, six months after the accident. While the title's meaning has a double entendre, some of its song titles -- "Screws," "Scotch Tape and Glue" --also reference his surgical events.
Stern enlisted an all-star cast playing in different configurations, achieving a diversity that even exceeds All Over the Place. The title track with drummer Dennis Chambers, bassist Victor Wooten, keyboardist/album producer Jim Beard, and saxophonist Bob Franceschini is a knotty exercise in rocking jazz-funk fusion with peeling guitar riffs, solos, and fills. There's a Miles Davis lilt to "Blueprint" with Randy Brecker guesting on muted trumpet, while Beard plays B-3 and synths, and Chambers offers his best take on Al Foster. Stern eventually touches on the blues before it winds out. "Half Crazy" is blazing, hard-grooving post-bop, with Beard on piano, swinging tenorist Bill Evans, drummer Lenny White, and Teymur Phell on bass. "Screws" commences slowly and quixotically with Wallace Roney on trumpet and the rest of the rhythm section above, as well as percussionist Arto Tuncboyaciyan. While the melody builds in layers and spirals upwards, Roney and Stern each solo hard, adding limber bluesy funk until they deconstruct it to a fade. Leni Stern adds her ngoni to the West African-tinged "Emilia" with Gio Moretti on wordless vocals hovering above the band's interplay. Stern's ngoni also adds a lithe dimension to the grooving, midtempo ballad "I Believe You." "Hope for That" is another intense, even transcendent fusion jam that bumps into rockist Latin terrain with drummer Dave Weckl driving a mean set of crossbeats. While fleet post-bop governs the hard swinging "Scotch Tape and Glue," with Evans returning on tenor, it is Stern's overdriven playing that sets the tone and controls its flow. Stern even picks up an acoustic guitar for the lovely quartet ballad "Gone," offering a side of himself we seldom hear. Stern may have been proving something to himself on Trip. But what he delivers is a tenacious, heartfelt work of imagination, discipline, technical facility, and pure pleasure. 
(This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa')  
Tracklist :
1 Trip 7:24
Mike Stern
2 Blueprint 7:27
Mike Stern
3 Half Crazy 5:37
Mike Stern
4 Screws 7:21
Mike Stern
5 Gone 4:06
Mike Stern
6 Whatchacallit 6:44
Mike Stern
7 Emilia 5:33
Mike Stern
8 Hope For That 5:52
Mike Stern
9 I Believe You 5:03
Mike Stern
10 Scotch Tape And Glue 5:36
Mike Stern
11 B Train 5:20
Mike Stern
Credits :
Bass – Edmond Gilmore (tracks: 5,9), Teymur Phell (tracks: 3,4,7,8,10,11), Tom Kennedy (tracks: 2,6), Victor Wooten (tracks: 1)
Drums – Dave Weckl (tracks: 8), Dennis Chambers (tracks: 1,2,6), Lenny White (tracks: 3,4,10,11), Will Calhoun (tracks: 5,9)
Guitar – Mike Stern
Ngoni – Leni Stern (tracks: 7,9)
Percussion – Arto Tuncboyaciyan (tracks: 1,2,4,7,8), Elhadji Alioune Faye (tracks: 10)
Piano, Keyboards – Jim Beard
Tenor Saxophone – Bill Evans (tracks: 3,10), Bob Franceschini (tracks: 1,6)
Trumpet – Randy Brecker (tracks: 2), Wallace Rooney (tracks: 4,11)
Vocals – Giovanni Moretti (tracks: 7)

OREGON - Northwest Passage (1997) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Oregon's first recording in a while features the three surviving original members (Ralph Towner on guitar and keyboards, bassist Glen Moore, and Paul McCandless, who switches between soprano, English horn, sopranino, oboe and bass clarinet) with either Arto Tuncboyaciyan or Mark Walker on percussion. They perform 14 originals that usually avoid blue notes, making the music sound very folk-oriented. There is plenty of variety in the atmospheres, and the consistently intriguing music should appeal to many listeners, including those who are into mood music, world music or folk songs in addition to jazz. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1     Take Heart 5:12
Ralph Towner
2     Don't Knock on My Door 2:11
Glen Moore / Arto Tuncboyaciyan
3     Lost in the Horns 5:39
Paul McCandless
4     Over Your Shoulder 1:42
Ralph Towner / Mark Walker
5     Claridade 6:34
Ralph Towner
6     Joyful Departure 6:32
Ralph Towner
7     Nightfall 8:38
Ralph Towner
8     Under a Dorian Sky 1:20
Oregon / Arto Tuncboyaciyan
9     Fortune Cookie 4:49
Ralph Towner
10     Under the Mountain 1:52
Oregon / Arto Tuncboyaciyan
11     L' Assassino Che Suona (The Musical Assassin) 3:35
Glen Moore
12     Intro 1:22
Glen Moore / Ralph Towner
13     Yet to Be 4:14
Ralph Towner
14     Northwest Passage 2:56
Oregon / Mark Walker
Credits:
Acoustic Bass – Glen Moore (faixas: 1 to 3, 5 to 14)
Bass Clarinet – Paul McCandless (faixas: 9)
Classical Guitar – Ralph Towner (faixas: 1, 3, 5, 6)
Cymbal [Cymbals], Performer [Hand-held Microphone] – Arto Tunçboyaciyan (faixas: 8, 10)
Drums – Arto Tunçboyaciyan (faixas: 1, 2, 5, 6, 11)
Drums, Percussion [Hand Drums] – Mark Walker (faixas: 3, 4, 7, 9, 13, 14)
English Horn – Paul McCandless (faixas: 5)
Keyboards – Ralph Towner (faixas: 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 12, 14)
Oboe – Paul McCandless (faixas: 8, 10, 13, 14)
Percussion – Arto Tunçboyaciyan (faixas: 2, 6), Mark Walker (faixas: 13, 14)
Piano – Ralph Towner (faixas: 3, 5, 9, 12, 13)
Sopranino Saxophone – Paul McCandless (faixas: 7)
Soprano Saxophone – Paul McCandless (faixas: 1, 3, 6, 9, 11)
Triangle, Shaker [Shakers] – Arto Tunçboyaciyan (faixas: 5)
Twelve-String Guitar – Ralph Towner (faixas: 3, 4, 7, 8, 10)
Vocals – Arto Tunçboyaciyan (faixas: 2, 10)
 

OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK - Whirling (1994) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Whirling celebrates the melodies and rhythms of the Middle East. Famed instrumentalist Omar Faruk Tekbilek plays an impressive array of instruments, including the two he is most famous for: the ney flute and the lute-like baglama. He is joined by Brian Keane, who contributes splendid background on guitar and synthesizer, and Ara Dinkjian and Arto Tuncboyaciyan on a variety of Middle Eastern instruments. Hassan Isikkut provides vocals. Faruk, a well-known musician and composer in Turkey, is also an accomplished jazz musician, and this aspect of his musical abilities adds a subtle flavor to the pieces. AllMusic
Tracklist:
1    Whirling Dervish    10:40
2    Gawazi    6:12
3    Love Respect Truth    7:09
4    Old Man's Dance    4:36
5    Long Wait    6:00
6    Moments Of Doubt    5:19
7    Caspian Winds    4:40
8    Fly Away    4:42
9    La Ilaha Il Allah    5:25
10    Sultan Of The Hearts    7:22
Credits:
Bendir, Cymbal, Percussion, Percussion [Bottle], Vocals – Arto Tuncboyaciyan
Featuring – Ara Dinkjian, Arto Tuncboyaciyan, Brian Keane, Hassan Işikkut
Guitar, Synthesizer, Bass, Wind Chimes – Brian Keane
Kanun – Hassan Işikkut
Ney, Baglama, Zurna, Reeds [Mijwiz], Performer [Jura], Goblet Drum [Darbuka], Bendir, Tambourine, Accordion, Vocals – Omar Faruk Tekbilek
Oud, Cümbüş [Sazbush], Cümbüş, Bass – Ara Dinkjian
Producer – Brian Keane

 

RICHARD A. HAGOPIAN & OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK - Gypsy Fire (1994) Mp3

For those uninitiated in the music that accompanies the belly dance, or those who think that belly dancing music was issued exclusively on those cheesy 1960s long-players, go on to the next review unless you are willing to have your cultural misperceptions challenged. The title of this recording by the renowned oud wizard Richard Hagopian -- and his ensemble that includes the great zuna and ney player Omar Faruk Tekbilek and saxophonist Yuri Yukanov, among others -- says it all. Belly dancing music is the jazz of the East. This is music that relies on shifting, careening rhythms; complex melodic and modal figures; and plenty of improvisation to get both the stories in these songs across and the dancers where they need to be in order to reveal the narrative to an audience of one or hundreds. Unlike the early American jazzmen who had no choice but to play their music in whorehouses, these musicians have a time-honored tradition to present their artistry within. The music played here by Hagopian and company reflects not only history, but also innovation -- nothing here reeks of being worn or coming from antiquity. Each tune, whether an original or a folk tune, is approached as a unique entity, as a framework for musical and cultural re-visioning. And if one considers it, this music as it is, forged from Midddle Eastern, European, and Asian cultures, is perhaps the most progressive of all. For ten tracks, there is no let-up in the deeply satisfying, sensual pleasure of the atmospherics and textural wonders Mr. Hagopian and his crew weave, nor is there a lack of musical or aesthetic imagination. Gypsy Fire is pure, sophisticated pleasure. (This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa')
Tracklist:
1    Rompi Rompi    4:06
2    Nihavent    4:46
3    Istemen Babacim    4:06
4    Kadife    5:50
5    Muhabbet    8:12
6    Minoush    3:34
7    Fincan    4:32
8    Konyali    2:31
9    Beledy    3:03
10    Siseler    4:59
Credits:
Ara Dinkjian - Guitar
Harold G. Hagopian - Producer, Violin
Richard Hagopian - Ud, Vocals
Hassan Isikkut - Kanun
Chris Marashlian - Bass
Omar Faruk Tekbilek - Composer, Ney, Producer, Zurna, etc ...
Arto Tuncboyaciyan - Percussion
Yuri Yunakov - Saxophone
Notas
'The Most Exciting Belly Dance Music Of The Century'

 

OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK - Mystical Garden (1996) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

 Tracklist:
1    Other Side Of The River    8:53
2    Magic Of The Evening    6:47
3    Laz    3:55
4    Shashkin    6:48
5    Hasret    8:53
6    Egyptian Dance    5:06
7    Three Last Words    8:33
8    Mystical Garden    7:07
9    Hu Allah    9:59
Credits:
Arranged By – Ara Dinkjian (tracks: 3), Brian Keane (tracks: 3), Omar Faruk Tekbilek (tracks: 4)
Composed By – Ara Dinkjian (tracks: 7), Arto Tuncboyaciyan (tracks: 1), Brian Keane (tracks: 2), Omar Faruk Tekbilek (tracks: 5, 6, 8, 9), Traditional (tracks: 3, 4)
Flugelhorn – Dan Pickering (tracks: 1)
Frame Drum, Shaker, Bells, Bendir, Finger Cymbals [Zil], Triangle, Guiro, Davul, Performer [Water Bowl] – Arto Tuncboyaciyan
Guest [Natural Sounds Provided By] – Ira Spiegel
Guitar, Synthesizer, Arranged By [Arrangements], Bass, Percussion, Cymbal, Drums, Producer – Brian Keane
Kanun, Violin – Hassan Iṣikkut
Ney, Kaval [Kavala], Zurna, Baglama, Drum [Jura], Oud, Goblet Drum [Darbuka], Bendir, Tambourine, Davul, Finger Cymbals, Synthesizer, Vocals – Omar Faruk Tekbilek
Oud, Cümbüş – Ara Dinkjian (tracks: 3, 5, 7)
Percussion – Arto Tuncboyaciyan (tracks: 2)
Vocals – Arto Tuncboyaciyan (tracks: 1, 3, 7)
Notas
The cover illustration is "Autumn Landscape With Mountains And Trees" circa 1370, and attributed to kar-i mani. It is found today in the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul.

OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK - Crescent Moon (1998) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Crescent Moon is a set of diversely fluid desert ambience with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences. Multi-talented multi-instrumentalist Omar Faruk Tekbilek created this massive soundscape with assistance from Brian Keane. Steve Roach also appears as a guest musician. This is a quirky crossover. Tekbilek mixes ambient atmospheres with touches of belly dance music. The result is a somewhat frenetic cloud of desert sand. The styles contrast and compliment each other. The soundscape is hot, arid, and tempestuous. It is an exotic sound design. This CD will appeal to fans of Jamshied Sharifi, Natacha Atlas, Sheila Chandra, and TUU. It is essential world music. by Jim Brenholts
Tracklist:
1    Crescent Moon    7:56
2    Yahel    6:57
3    Salute To The Sun    8:57
4    Tamzara    4:10
5    Baglama Delight    5:31
6    Hijaz Raks    4:59
7    Last Moments Of Love    4:56
8    Adanali    5:10
9    Azeri    7:23
10    Yunnus    10:12
Credits:
Composed By – Arto Tuncboyaciyan (tracks: 3), Keane (tracks: 3), Hasan Issikut (tracks: 7), Tekbilek (tracks: 3)
Composed By [All Compositions By] – Omar Faruk Tekbilek (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 6, 8 to 10)
Musician [The Musicians:] – Ara Dinkjian, Arto Tuncboyaciyan, Brian Keane, Hasan Isikutt, Nick Mouganis, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Steve Roach, Steve Tavelaris, Yuri Yunakov
Producer – Brian Keane

BRIAN KEANE & OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK - Beyond the Sky (1992) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Reuniting the innovative duo of Brian Keane with Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Beyond the Sky comes across as an even more adventurous excursion than their two earlier recordings, Suleyman the Magnificent and Fire Dance. The listener is transported to exotic regions of the Mediterranean, including Turkey, the Middle East and North Africa....Amidst the Middle Eastern harmonies, the listener catches whiffs of Moroccan and even Afro-Cuban or South American styles, in a unique marriage of musical cultures. AllMusic
Tracklist:
1 Beyond the Sky 4:40
Brian Keane
2 Imaginary Traveler 6:08
Brian Keane
3 Kolaymi 5:16
Hassan Isikkut
4 Bridge 5:36
Omar Faruk Tekbilek
5 Chargah Sirto 2:33
Traditional
6 Your Love Is My Cure 6:58
Traditional
 7 Selemet 6:08
Traditional
8 Nighttime 6:03
Traditional
9 Strange Little Corner 2:18
Brian Keane
10 Siseler 3:49
Traditional
11 Sweet Trouble 5:40
Brian Keane / Omar Faruk Tekbilek
12 Al Fatiha 3:20
Brian Keane / Omar Faruk Tekbilek
Credits:
Ara Dinkjian - Oud
Hassan Isikkut - Composer, Harp
Brian Keane - Bass, Composer, Engineer, Guitar, Guitar (12 String), Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Steel), Mixing, Orchestration, Percussion, Producer, Slide Guitar, Sound Effects, Synthesizer
John Mozzi - Engineer, Synthesizer
Omar Faruk Tekbilek - Composer, Bardouka, Oud, Ney, Kaval, ,Baglama, Reeds, Reeds (Multiple), Synthesizer, Tambourine, Vocals
Arto Tuncboyaciyan - Drums, Percussion, Tambourine