With this wonderful album Atzmon establishes his role as a musician who is involved in what goes on in the world, and is not afraid to express himself.
The music on this CD is not political - it is rather a beautiful combination of Arab music, East-European jewish music, and Balkan music - all soaked with Jazz sensibility. Atzmon Clarinet playing is simply amazing - his tone on this small instrument is as big as a tenor sax. Atzmon's saxophone playing - here he plays alto and soprano - is highly original, with welcome traces of Coltrane influences. Everything here is top quality - the Palestinian singers (Reem Kelani and Dhafer Youssef), the Gypsy guitar and violin players, and Atzmon's quartet that provide the Jazzy linking glue throughout.
But Atzmon goes further than that, and states that the CD is dedicated to the Palestinian right of return. This is part of the package, he insists.
Atzmon's attitude elevates the role of the musician from a mere entertainer to that of a leader, realizing that the moral commitment of the musician should not be less than that of a writer, painter, sculpturer, or any other true artist.
This is a breakthrough CD both musically and conceptually. It should be heard by every serious person.