RABIH ABOU-KHALIL - Nafas (1988) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Recorded in Germany by Beirut native Rabih Abou-Khalil, this moody, atmospheric album is more like a soundscape than a collection of songs. Abou-Khalil's primary instrument is the oud, a lute-like instrument traditionally used in Arab music. This low, sweet-toned, obviously Far Eastern instrument is teamed up with nothing more than Arab drums in most of the songs. Sparse vocals, performed by Selim Kusur, do little to create any discernible melody. Instead, they add texture and effect -- or an intro in the case of "Incantation." Upbeat songs such as "Awakening" are carried along by the drums, while the melancholy sound of the oud dominates introspective tracks such as "Nafas." This album is a far cry from the complex, percussion-heavy, often slightly jangly albums that usually make it to the world music section in Western record stores. It is also unlike the techno-influenced worldbeat albums that found popularity amongst certain club circles. It is a wistful, lonely album. Its simple, spare instrumentation is its distinguishing feature; after listening to dozens of over-produced, musically complex albums, this one comes as a bit of a relief. Though certain world music experts consider Abou-Khalil to be an innovator within his subgenre, his music sounds neither new nor old. It's hard to fit within any time frame. by L. Katz  
Tracklist :
1     Awakening 2'06
Glen Velez
2     Window 8'56
Rabih Abou-Khalil / Selim Kusur / Setrak Sarkissian / Glen Velez
3     Gaval Dance 4'24
Setrak Sarkissian / Glen Velez
4     The Return 1 6'19
Rabih Abou-Khalil
5     The Return 2 4'28
Rabih Abou-Khalil
6     Incantation 6'03
Rabih Abou-Khalil
7     Waiting 7'32
Rabih Abou-Khalil
8     Amal Hayati 6'45
Mohamed Abdel Wahab
9     Nafas 1'37
Rabih Abou-Khalil
10     Nandi 2'07
Glen Velez
Credits :    
Frame Drum [Frame Drums] – Glen Velez
Goblet Drum [Darabukka] – Setrak Sarkissian
Ney [Nay], Voice – Selim Kusur
Oud – Rabih Abou-Khalil
Producer – Manfred Eicher

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

RABIH ABOU-KHALIL - Bukra (1989) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist:
1    Fortune Seeker    4:52
Rabih Abou-Khalil
2    Bukra    7:58
Rabih Abou-Khalil
3    Kibbe    8:16
Rabih Abou-Khalil
4    Remember... The Desert 7:10
Rabih Abou-Khalil
Overtone Voice – Glen Velez
5    Nayla    9:24
Rabih Abou-Khalil
6    Time    4:25
Rabih Abou-Khalil
7    Reflections    8:05
Rabih Abou-Khalil
Credits:
Alto Saxophone – Sonny Fortune
Artwork [Cover Art], Calligraphy – Georges Ghantous
Bass – Glen Moore
Drums [South Indian], Percussion – Ramesh Shotham
Frame Drum, Percussion – Glen Velez
 Oud, Producer, Design [Cover Design] – Rabih Abou-Khalil

RABIH ABOU-KHALIL - Roots & Sprouts (1990) APE (image+.cue), lossless

In a satisfying stylistic experiment, Lebanese composer and oud player Rabih Abou-Khalil has decided to put together an album of jazz numbers with no Western instruments other than Glen Moore's standup bass. There is Yassin El-Achek on violin, but the violin is almost as much a Middle Eastern instrument as a Western one. El-Achek usually remains in the Middle Eastern style of playing, but occasionally, as on "Wordless," he double-stops and trills like Paganini.

The tracks are nicely constructed, and the improvisations are not allowed to run amok or become shapeless. The tunes are, as usual with Abou-Khalil, Middle Eastern melodies with phrases and turns that nod at Western notions of what "Oriental" music sounds like. This conceit paves the way for the extremely rare event of Abou-Khalil covering someone else's song. And which did he choose? Duke Ellington's "Caravan," the all-time most famous faux-Arabic jazz number! The song turns into a duet between El-Achek's violin and Selim Kusur's nay (Arabic flute). It's fun but lightweight compared to the album's originals. All the instrumentalists are in fine form, particularly Glen Velez, who really shakes his tambourine as well as pulling out his snare drums for several numbers. Abou-Khalil has never been better as a performer, especially on the opening of "Remembering Machgara," where he makes his oud sound like an electric guitar. It helps that the album is unusually well-arranged, even for Abou-Khalil, and well-recorded, even for Enja, everything sounding wonderfully present and defined. This album represents the expatriate Lebanese composer-musician in his prime. by Kurt Keefner  
Tracklist:
1    Remembering Machgara    7:10
Rabih Abou-Khalil
2    Walking On Air    9:03
Rabih Abou-Khalil
3    Nida    6:38
Rabih Abou-Khalil
4    Revelation    5:38
Rabih Abou-Khalil
5    Wordless    8:05
Rabih Abou-Khalil
6    Sweet Rain    4:59
Rabih Abou-Khalil
7    Outlook    8:25
Rabih Abou-Khalil
8    Caravan 5:32
Composed By – Ellington, Mills, Tizol
9    Dreams Of A Dying City    11:06
Rabih Abou-Khalil
Credits:
Bass – Glen Moore
Oud, Arranged, Producer – Rabih Abou-Khalil
Goblet Drum [Darabukka] – Mohammad Al-Sous
Ney [Nay] – Selim Kusur
Percussion [Frame Drums] – Glen Velez
Violin – Yassin El-Achek