CD Review: Nawa's 'Ancient Sufi Invocations & Forgotten Songs From Aleppo'

Nawa
Ancient Sufi Invocations & Forgotten Songs From Aleppo
Lost Origins/Electric Cowbell

The first volume in a series to examine ancient Sufi, Christian chant, and secretive orders, Ancient Sufi Invocations & Forgotten Songs From Aleppo traces obscure and previously unreleased vocal music through various forms, including dhikr, maqam, and mowashah. The entire album is vocally-produced and it was recorded in a 500-year-old house in Aleppo, Syria. The musical recording was created by Jason Hamacher. However, the unlikely path of a punk drummer and photographer to capture the ancient Sufi singing styles of Syria was a wild proposition that eventually came to fruition. The six long tracks are only about a half-hour in total running length. Still, the music lingers on in a repetitive manner that reaches far beyond the thirty-minute mark. The songs are evenly-divided between ancestral dhikrs and maqams. Anyone interested in Sufi music, Syrian music, and chanting traditions from around the world will relish the historical delicacies inherent in Nawa's first release. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Yuval Ron Ensemble's 'Seeker of Truth'

Yuval Ron Ensemble

Seeker of Truth

Yuval Ron Music

As the musical director, oud player, and saz player, Yuval Ron assembles a host of musicians for his ensemble in a session recorded live at the 2008 World Festival of Sacred Music in Los Angeles, California. The ensemble includes Najwa Gibran on vocals; Sukhawat Ali Khan on harmonium and vocals; Yeghish Manukyan on duduk and clarinet; Virginie Alumian on qanun; Jamie Papish on udu, cajon, dumbek, dhol, daf; and David Martinelli on riqq, dhol, frame drum, ankle bells, and dumbek. The album is a collection of Sufi music from North African and Western European regions to South Asia. A host of other performers provide additional vocal and instrumental accompaniment on some of the songs. At any rate, the music is clearly Sufi with musical influences extending back well into the early history of Islam. Yuval Ron's nine songs represent a perfect collection of music that is easy to listen to and uplifting in every sense of the word. A nice blend of instrumental and vocal music with Sufi soul! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Norway Meets Iran with Skruk & Mahsa Vahdat

Skruk & Mahsa Vahdat

I vinens speil (In The Mirror of Wine)

Kirkelig Kulturverksted

Norway's Skruk choir and Iran's Mahsa Vahdat create symphonic songs of poetry from Sufi poets Rumi and Hafez. The songs are presented in Persian and Norwegian. The Sufi poets often combined elements of Islam, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism in their poetic works. I vinens speil draws upon the same religious influences mentioned above and it was also recorded in a Norwegian church. The mix of light percussion, bass, and piano are a perfect companion to the beautiful choral melodies and Mahsa's voice. Mahsa's angelic voice on the opening track, "Gleden Ved Ditt Kyss", sets the stage for the rest of the album. The piano is never overtly intrusive. Anyone with an interest in hauntingly beautiful church melodies, classical music, and world jazz will find the most satisfaction with Skruk & Mahsa Vahdat. Liner notes include Norwegian and Persian song translations. ~ Matthew Forss