Jon Balke & Amina Alaoui – Siwan – ECM

by | Jun 30, 2009 | Pop/Rock/World CD Reviews | 0 comments

Jon Balke & Amina Alaoui – Siwan – ECM 2042, 1 hour [Release date: June 30, 09] ****:

(Amina Alaoui, vocals; Jon Hassell, trumpet & electronics; Kheir Eddine M’Kachiche, violin; Jon Balke, keyboards & conductor; Helge Norbakken percussion; Pedram Khavar Zamini, zarb; Baroque Soloists/Bjarte Eike, violin & leader)

While clearly in the world music/jazz area, this Jon Balke release seems so strongly world music that I thought it should be in this area. The Arabic poems are adaptations and melodic co-compositions by vocalist Alaoui, and the primary composer is pianist Balke.  The Baroque Soloists ensemble includes theorbo, archlute and clavichord in addition to the usual strings and harpsichord. They are heard on some of the 11 tracks. The zarb is also known as the tonbak and is a single-headed goblet drum with a skin on just one end and many different special techniques for playing it. The project draws on the sounds and ideas of pre-Renaissance and Baroque music and is intended to draw attention to the realization of what was lost during the Inquisition and expulsion of the Muslims from Spain – the rich blending of Arabic and European cultures which had been going on and was lost due to religious intolerance.

Balke, Alaoui and their friends explored Andalusian classical music, which they feel was born in the Cordoba court in the 9th century, when Moorish Spain was a center of musical idioms and ideas. They point out a common denominator between the three idioms of Andalusian music, early Baroque, and jazz, saying they all show flexibility, openness to interpretation, and improvisation, which results in a rich variety of forms and variations. It’s interesting that since the making of this recording in 2007 and 08 at a studio in Oslo, the Siwan ensemble has performed live in both Norway and Egypt.

The backgrounds of the ensemble’s members are extremely varied. The Baroque Soloists are some of the top players on the European early music scene. Andreas Arend is a German lutenist who performs in both Baroque and Renaissance music. The leader of the group, Bjarte Eike, has been a violinist in early music in Copenhagen and is also a member of Balke’s Magnetic North ensemble. Violinist M’Kachiche is from Algeria and steeped in the tradition of Arab-Andalusian music. Percussionist Norbakken mixes world and jazz traditions in his work. Trumpeter Jon Hassell is known for his unique sound blended from the avant garde, Indian classical music and minimalism – which he dubs “Fourth World.” Amina Alaoui was born in Fez, schooled in the Moroccan tradition, and explores connections between Fado, Flamenco and Andalusian music. Pianist-composer Balke is Norwegian and has been involved in many projects combining jazz and world music, as well as composing works for sinfoniettas and chamber orchestras.

The overall feeling of the album struck me as similar to Jon Hassell’s efforts but with vocals. I have been upfront previously in explaining that I’m not heavily into vocal music – preferring instrumental – but those who are would I think find this CD a most worthwhile listening experience.  The melodies are lovely and tonal. There are complete translations of each of the songs – even with Arabic script for those of Arabic origin, and the poetry is often very moving to read. (Thank you ECM for providing more information than your spare booklets normally do.) Some of the songs are in Spanish or Portuguese. Alaoui has a vocal delivery that seems very secure and sure, but it is not easy to follow the English translation while listening. The exotic sounds of the various instruments are beautifully captured in the recording.  The general mood is dreamy and laid back, in spite of the variety of percussion often heard.

TrackList
: Tuchia, Ya Andalucin, Jadwa, Ya Safwa Ti, Ondas Do Mar De Vigo, Itimad, A La Dina, Zahori, Ayshyin Raquin, Thulathyath, Toda Sciencia Trancendiendo.

 – John Henry

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