Customer Reviews

Doudouk Beyond Borders

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been impressed by Minassian's playing with Peter Gabriel and Afro Celt Sound System, and was intrigued when I found he was releasing an album. As a collector of Duduk music (and duduks), I'm utterly astounded at how beautiful this album is. Levon's tone is gorgeous and his accompanists (piano, keyboards, ney flute, violin, tenpur, oud, and percussion) do a wonderful job of complimenting it. Most of the tracks feature Levon's duduk soaring over wonderfully minimal backing tracks, but a few feature some breathtaking vocals courtesy of Roselyne Minassian and Herve Teboul as well. This is the most genuine and successful world music albums I've ever heard.

this CD depicts the Armenian Duduk's mysterious and captivating
tunes that trenscend the conventional yet faithful to it's awefilled essence - soul music of a nation whose melodies of lament still beckon justice... nourishing for souls of conflict

I was a little nervous that this might be a world music exercise in the worst sense of the phrase, particularly with the other instruments listed, since the duduk is at its best when solo or solo with a drone.
However I was very impressed by the whole CD. The playing is first class, and manages to be both mellow and incisive. It is always good to hear other duduk players, apart from Gasparyan, since outside Armenia itself, few other "names" appear on the CDs available (although there is a Californian Armenian label - which is available in Armenia but which I have never seen in the UK).
Wonderful !

This music is far Eastern European and could be inaccessible culturally and intellectually for main stream musicians.I am sympathetic to his attempts but the tale he tells in a language that few may understand or have the energy to understand.Great in small doses but can became a dirge.

MR A.Peterson(South California), I'm astonished by the beautiful music of this album. The mellow sounds of this beautiful armenian instrument are amazing. I can not imagine that anyone would not absolutely treasure every note of Mr Levon's performance.