Anouar Brahem The Astounding Eyes Of Rita 2009

There's almost no world music mentioned here. There are occasional jazz reviews, most of them quite mainstream popular. No free jazz or fusion. Nothing terribly challenging. This record by Anouar Brahem, a Tunisian oud (think eleven-string lute) player is a breathtakingly lovely blend of jazz with Arabic classical and folk music that is quietly intimate and deeply satisfying. It is a true amalgam of styles, creating something unique.

Brahem is accompanied here by German Klaus Gesing on bass clarinet, Swedish bassist Björn Meyer, and Lebanese percussionist Khaled Yassine. The music is quiet, etherial, and beautiful. This is not the music you hear at the masseuse, although that would be nice. It is very much more than that. The interplay of Brahem and Meyer is particularly special. They have that "two minds thinking together" thing that marks many of the best musical collaborations, whatever the style. Gesing mostly provides atmosphere, and Yassine's percussion is perfect for the setting. 

Describing the music is difficult. It is the opposite of frenetic. But it is not in any way boring, or "background music". It is serene, but there is a lot going on. Brahem's compositions unfold slowly, revealing themselves as they go. The musicians are working to complement and expand these works, always listening to each other as much as playing. 

If any of that sounds interesting, I highly recommend giving it a listen.

I listened to several other of Brahem's records, often with ensembles that include saxophone, piano, and/or accordion, and those instruments seem to overwhelm Brahem's oud more than the combination here. Maybe you'll like them as much as this one, but check this out first. It really is special.