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 These are some recent releases from the Persian, Turkish and
Arabic cultures in the Middle East.
Turkish Groove (PUTU248-2 CD) is a great
introduction to popular Turkish music, ranging from Turkish pop to
cross-cultural efforts. The artists featured on
Turkish Groove combine Turkish rhythms and
melodies with dance beats, hip hop and world sounds (Balkan and Central Asian).
The album features Bendeniz, Mustafa Sandal, Eurovision song
festival winner Sertab, Nilgül, pop star Tarkan, Gülseren, Emrah, Göksel, Tuğba
Ekinci, Nazan Öncel, and the popular Sezen Aksu. A portion of the proceeds from
the sale of this CD will be donated to Karnaval Kid in support of their efforts
to improve childcare and education for disadvantaged children in Turkey.
El-Zafeer Ensemble is a group of virtuoso musicians, led by Kareem Roustom,
that plays Middle Eastern influenced jazz. On
Almitra's Question (Fuller Street
Music), the group mixes acoustic instruments with electric bass. Roustom plays
the guitar and is accompanied by violinist Hanna Khoury, several percussionists
and two bass players.
Burhan Öçal's Ottoman Garden - Jardin Ottoman is a solo effort with
Öçal playing tanbur and
singing on some pieces. Most of the material is Turkish classical music with
Öçal playing several taksims.
From nearby Iran comes the album Iran - The Dastagah System (Norsud Music).
Reissued in 2002, the album contains recordings from 1955, made by Deben
Bhattacharya. The artists featured are Ostad Zareen Panje Bel on tar, Zareef on
ud and zarb, Murteza Nay Davoud on tar, and Darioosh Sefvat on santoor and zarb.
The Syrian maqam tradition, heavily influenced by Turkish music, is
reflected in another historic recording: Syrie, the Syrian Makam (Norsud
Music). Released in 2002, the pieces were also recorded by ethnomusicologist
Deben Bhattacharya in 1955. Muhammad Jabban plays ud on all pieces.
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