Sunday, August 16, 2009

CD Review: Azerbaijan's Sevda Alekperzadeh


Sevda Alekperzadeh
Sevdali Dunya (Worlds of Love)
Network

The jazzy and sultry voice of Azerbaijan's 32-year-old Sevda Alekperzadeh brings us a lovely set of vocal and instrumental tunes from the Caucasus. Sevda sings in Azeri. The songs include instruments such as the piano, double bass, cello, kamanche, nagara, ud, drums, duduk, tar, saz, brass, zurna, and others. The majority of songs are composed with a jazzy-Mugham influenced musical background. Though, 'Ay Giz' is one exception that sounds like a pop standard from the 1940's. The incomparable Malik Mansurov lends his instrumental skills on the iconic tar instrument for a few tracks. Anyone familiar with classical, Turko-Asiatic music will find Sevdali Dunya tantalizing for the ears. The liner notes include song titles and lyrics in French, English, and German. It only takes a few listens before you understand why the world should love Sevda Alekperzadeh. ~ Matthew Forss

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