Rabih Abou-Khalil - 1997 - Odd Times

Rabih Abou-Khalil 

1997

Odd Times

01. The Sphinx And I 5:44
02. Dr. Gieler's Prescription 5:15
03. Elephant Hips 10:15
04. Q-Tips 4:34
05. Son Of Ben Hur 11:29
06. The Happy Sheik 9:32
07. One Of Those Days 10:31
08. Rabou-Abou-Kabou 6:52

Drums, Producer – Mark Nauseef
Frame Drum, Producer – Nabil Khaiat
Harmonica, Producer – Howard Levy
Oud – Rabih Abou-Khalil
Tuba, Serpent, Producer – Michel Godard

Recorded live at the Stadtgarten, Cologne, Germany on May 11, 12, 13, 1997.

Odd Times is Rabih Abou-Khalil's first live album. Since it would be impractical to assemble all of the guests he has had on his albums over the years, Abou-Khalil has gone in the other direction and pared his ensemble down to what is for him the bare bones: himself on oud, Howard Levy on harmonica, Michel Godard on tuba and serpent (an antique form of the tuba), Mark Nauseef on drums, and Nabil Khaiat on frame drums. Most live albums contain well-known pieces from the artist's studio repertoire; in contrast, Odd Times is mostly new material. In general, the album is a mix of shapeless, overlong attempts at atmosphere ("Elephant Hips") and fairly bouncy and fun items ("Q-Tips"). The pared-down lineup is engaging because Abou-Khalil's oud and Godard's tuba are more prominent; unfortunately, Levy's harmonica is also pronounced, and simply clashes with the entire project of fusing Arabic music and jazz. Though in all fairness, on "The Happy Sheik" Levy sets aside his usual cadences in favor of something more bluesy that melds better with its surroundings. The album closes with a vibrant performance of "Rabou-Abou-Kabou," one of Abou-Khalil's best songs.

"Odd Times" is the perfect title for this original creative masterpiece born from Arabic modal musical phrases played on the oud, gutsy blues on the harmonica, and occasional brass sounds which add a semi-Balkan sound, totally original and world-class. The labyrinthine musical patterns seek a path of their own which provide Middle Eastern flavored jazz sounds that are distinctive and deeply rooted. At times the music is racously joyous and it twists into introspective Middle Eastern musical modes reminsicent of a Sheik and his dancing harem ... Track #3 has enormous appeal: a brass band intro morphs into haunting soul searching almost mournful Arabic styled music with exotic and hypnotic rhythmical interpretations.

This music has deep ethnocentric roots combined with jazz interpretations, added to it are superb technical expertise and a unique freedom of expression. The oud is liberated from the village and traditional music to a freedom it never anticipated. There is a dynamic exuberance of sound, a fresh joy at being released from its previous well prescribed role. Rabih Abou-Khalil is a master avante gard jazz player. He hypnotizes the listener with Arabic musical scales that arise somewhere out of the blues of the desert ... The music melds the best sounds of the traditional East with the experimental jazz of the West, creating a musical exaltation which breaks its cultural boundaries ... call it musical magic