Caravanserai [IMPORT]

Burhan Ocal, Istanbul Oriental Ensemble

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 13, 2001)
• Original Release Date: February 13, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Network Germany
• ASIN: B0000560BO
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #138,501 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > World Music > Middle East > Turkey

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
There's no mistaking the royal pedigree. This luxurious, highly ornamented mixture of hand drums, kanun zither, violin, oud, and clarinet is as sumptuous as a fatty-food feast, heady as a pot of frankincense, and intoxicating as a shot of 151-proof rum. Percussionist Burhan Öçal and his rip-roaring ensemble specialize in the forgotten Gypsy music of Thrace with roots in an older repertoire designed to pamper the Ottoman sultans. Apart from preserving Turkish musical traditions during periods of Islamic opposition to music, Gypsy performers also added outside elements to the stew. Thus Ferdi Nadaz's microtonal clarinet flights on "Askin Sarabi" recall the Bulgarian wedding music rave-ups of Ivo Papasov, while the melodic motifs of "Bozkirda Dugun" suggest Yiddish klezmer. Scattered violin flourishes echo Indian sarangi phrases, and "Halli Dokuyan Kiz" with its sensuous zither and violin textures could easily pass for East African taarab. Holding it all together are the belly-dancing rhythms that punctuate the refined atmosphere with a healthy dose of hip-wiggle. Every note seems to promote well-being, but not without an accompanying naughty wink. --Bob Tarte

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Burhan Ocal is Incredible!, March 13, 2001

By A Customer

I just saw this band play at UCLA and bought the album and I am blown away. Ocal did a darabuka solo (a finger drum) that made my (and everyone else's) jaw drop. I've seen Zakir Hussain and am not a fan of "drum solos" if you will. But never did I see such a musical display from a mere percussion instrument. One minute it was polyrhythmic genius, then next drum n bass thumpin grooves. The rest of the band are these charming dudes who look fresh off the boat. They loved the audience response (which was near hysteria). Superb musicians...every one of them.

This CD is great and captures a lot of the juice that this band emanate on stage. It's fun music - lively, groovy and yet set in the weirdest time signatures (it's fun to try counting). I'm not a big world music guy, and I didn't know what I was going to see - but I am sold now. This is better than klezmer and Ocal is a showman thru and thru, both live and on disc!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating!, March 2, 2004

By	D. Klevorn (San Antonio, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Absolutely beautiful! Play this one along with "Alley's of Istanbul" at your next Turkish dinner party. Appeals to old music lovers from both orient and occident!