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 - 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

RABIH ABOU-KHALIL - Tarab (1993) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Tarab is an unusual album for the great Lebanese jazz composer and oud player in that it features no Western instruments or musicians, except for Glen Moore on the acoustic bass. The melody instruments are the nay (Arabic flute) played by the Syrian veteran Selim Kusur and, as always, Abou-Khalil on oud or Arabic lute (which more or less functions like the piano in a standard jazz quartet). Rounding out the group are Nabil Khaiat on frame drums and percussion, and Rameesh Shotham on South Indian drums and other percussion. Everyone but Kusur has worked at least semi-regularly with Abou-Khalil. (Kusur did play on Abou-Khalil's Roots & Sprouts, an earlier instance of an album with no Western instruments.) The lack of Western instrumentalists gives Tarab a less jazzy, more Arabic feeling than Abou-Khalil's other albums. Abou-Khalil builds his albums around his guest instrumentalists, so Tarab features the nay prominently, but even more, this is an album for the oud and for showing off the rhythm section. For example, on "In Search of the Well" there is actually a bass solo. And there are a few other pleasant surprises scattered throughout the album. On "Awakening," someone -- just who is not credited -- lets forth a string of bol singing, that rapid-fire, tongue-twisting Indian chant made famous in the West by Sheila Chandra. And on "Arabian Waltz," a jaw harp appears out of the blue , presumably played by Shotham, who plays it on Between Dusk and Dawn, accenting the fast-paced original version of what later became the more lush title track of the album Arabian Waltz. This last song is especially welcome for its strong melody, standing out on an album that certainly does not lack for atmosphere, but which would have benefited from greater tunefulness. Still, a very worthy effort, though not the best place to start one's Rabih Abou-Khalil collection, especially if one is coming from a jazz background. by Kurt Keefner
Tracklist:
1 Bushman in the Desert 8:00
Rabih Abou-Khalil
2 After Dinner 5:53  
Rabih Abou-Khalil
3 Awakening 8:06
Rabih Abou-Khalil / Erik Berglund
4 Haneen Wa Hanaan 8:07
Rabih Abou-Khalil
5 Lost Centuries 7:10
Rabih Abou-Khalil
6 In Search of the Well 3:37
Rabih Abou-Khalil
7 Orange Fields 9:38
Rabih Abou-Khalil
8 A Tooth Lost 5:20
Rabih Abou-Khalil
9 Arabian Waltz 5:00
Rabih Abou-Khalil
Credits:
Bass – Glen Moore
Oud, Cover [Cover Design], Design [Cover Design] – Rabih Abou-Khalil
Drums [South Indian Drums], Percussion, Jew's Harp [Mouth Harp] – Ramesh Shotham
Frame Drum [Frame Drums], Percussion – Nabil Khaiat
Ney [Nay] – Selim Kusur