KUDSI ERGUNER — Ottomania : Sufi - Jazz - Project (1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The first world music project that blends classical music from the Ottoman Empire with Western improvisation and jazz rhythms. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Semai    5:48
Written-By – Mesut Cemil Bey
2    Sufimaj    4:37
Written-By – Kudsi Erguner
3    Dua    12:55
Written-By – Kudsi Erguner
4    Free Space    7:47
Written-By – Kudsi Erguner
5    Nefes    9:06
Written-By – Kudsi Erguner
6        Hi-Jaz    9:18
Written-By – Kudsi Erguner
Credits :
Bendir, Goblet Drum [Zarb], Tabla, Daf, Percussion [Traditional] – Bruno Caillat
Double Bass – Yves Rousseau
Drums – Mark Nauseef
Kanun – Hakan Gungor
Kemenche – Derya Turkan
Lute [Ud] – Mehmet Emin Bitmez
Ney, Producer, Executive-Producer – Kudsi Erguner
Saxophone – Christof Lauer
Tambura [Tanbur] – Necib Gulses
Tuba, Serpent – Michel Godard

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

 

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

OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK - One Truth (1999) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Omar Faruk Tekbilek's One Truth continues his exploration of the mystical sounds of Sufism, blending Middle Eastern instruments like the ney flute and modern electronic textures into intense, intricate works. The album's songs of devotion showcase Tekbilek's technical skill as well as his intuitive understanding of this passionate and spiritual music. by Heather Phares
Tracklist:
1    Red Skies    6:42
2    I Love You    8:11
3    Wildflower    5:50
4    Manhem    5:52
5    Tahir Ranks    5:19
6    Roman    4:58
7    One Truth    6:59
8    Ara'ya    5:10
9    Sufi    9:31
10    Istanbul    6:30
Credits:
Arranged By – Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Yuval Ron
Backing Vocals – Azam Ali, Deniz Tekbilek, Pinar Tekbilek
Baglama, Bells, Bendir, Bongos, Goblet Drum [Darbuka], Daf, Djembe, Strings [Jura], Kaval, Keyboards, Ney, Oud, Cymbal [Rama], Shaker, Slit Drum, Snare, Tambourine, Finger Cymbals [Zils], Zurna, Voice – Omar Faruk Tekbilek
Bendir, Bells, Shaker, Finger Cymbals, Percussion [Bottles] – Dror Sini
Cello – Kenan Torfeh
Drum – Tal Bergman
Electric Guitar – Mike Fonte
Flamenco Guitar – Adam Del Monte
Producer, Keyboards, Classical Guitar, Piano – Yuval Ron
Shaker, Overtone Voice – Randy Crafton
Sintir [Bass], Guitar [12-String] – Chris Cunningham
Toy Piano – Ian Nickus
Tracking By – Randy Crafton
Violin – Roberto Cani
Violin, Kanun – Hasan Isikkut 

OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK with STEVE SHERAN - Alif : Love Supreme (2002) FLAC (tracks), lossless

The latest release from Turkish-Egyptian multi-instrumentalist Omar Faruk Tekbilek is all about love, and its sense of romance spills across all 12 tracks, from the lush "Gardener" to the heavy melodicism of "Lachin." The songs themselves are all traditional, but Tekbilek, a master of the flute known as the ney and many other instruments, brings a timeless sensibility to the music. While there's a definite Middle Eastern underpinning to everything, in part thanks to percussionist extraordinaire Steve Shehan, whose remarkable senses offer the muscle behind the music, the melodies are sometimes sweetened a little for Western consumption, as on "Forbidden Love," where the voices rest on clouds of synthesizer, and at times the feel is pan-Mediterranean, bringing in strains of Greek and Italian feel to the mix. There's nothing wrong with that at all, and its heart's in the right place. The love songs aren't all romance -- they're an exploration of the different forms of love, be it a love of life, or divine love (as exemplified by the epic title track, showing Tekbilek's Sufi upbringing), and Tekbilek brings in some excellent collaborators, both vocal and instrumental, including the flamenco guitar of José Rodrigues Muñoz, who brings in an influence that originated in North Africa before landing in Spain. The end result of all this is an album of beautiful songs, like the classic "Dark Eyes," performed with grace and sensitivity, and sometimes a sense of real adventure. by Chris Nickson
Tracklist:
1    Dulger    5:54
2    Gardener    5:05
3    Laundry Girl    5:12
4    Dark Eyes 4:45
Composed By – Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Steve Shehan
5    Shinanay    5:50
6    Don't Cry My Love    4:54
7    Alif    10:01
8    Dadash    5:03
9    Take A Flight 5:16
Composed By – Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Steve Shehan
10    Ya Bouy 5:02
Composed By – Farid Al Atrash
11    Lachin    6:27
12    Forbidden Love 5:51
Composed By, Lyrics By – Ishay Amir
Lyrics By [Arabic Translation] – Yitshak Avi-Ezer
Vocals – Zehava Ben
Credits:
Arranged By – Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Steve Shehan
Producer, Orchestrated, Mixed By – Steve Shehan
Vocals,    Arranger, Baglama, Bendir, Composer, Darbouka, Def, Jura, Kaval, Kavala, Ney, Oud, Zurna – Omar Faruk Tekbilek
Written By – Traditional (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 8, 11) 

ANOUAR BRAHEM – The Astounding Eyes of Rita (2009) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Delightful new project, assembled by Tunisian oud master Brahem with producer Manfred Eicher. Combination of bass clarinet with oud suggests a link to Anouar’s “Thimar” trio, but this East/West line-up often feels closer to the more traditionally-inclined sounds of “Barzakh” or “Conte de l’Incroyable Amour”. Klaus Gesing, from Norma Winstone’s Trio, and Björn Meyer, from Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin, are both players with an affinity for musical sources beyond jazz, and they interact persuasively inside Brahem’s music. A dance of dark, warm sounds, urged onward by the darbouka and frame drum of Lebanaese percussionist Khaled Yassine. The album is dedicated to the memory of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. www.ecmrecords.com 

Tracklist :
1    The Lover Of Beirut    7:44
2    Dance With Waves    3:56
3    Stopover At Djibouti    6:34
4    The Astounding Eyes Of Rita    8:41
5    Al Birwa    4:51
6    Galilee Mon Amour    7:17
7    Waking State    7:48
8    For No Apparent Reason    6:35
Credits:
Bass – Björn Meyer
Bass Clarinet – Klaus Gesing
Goblet Drum [Darbouka], Bendir – Khaled Yassine
Oud, Music By – Anouar Brahem
Producer [Produced By] – Manfred Eicher
Text By [Poem In Booklet] – Mahmoud Darwish
ECM 2075