JADAL (Oud Duo) [IMPORT]

Marcel Khalife

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 15, 1996)
• Original Release Date: March 21, 1996
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Nagam
• ASIN: B00000J9FB
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #151,614 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times, Nov. 13, 1995
... Jadal illustrates Marcel Khalife's sophisticated application of Western-styled instrumental composition techniques to music with elements deeply rooted in Arabic vocal sources. Khalife's fertile compositional imagination, which unleashed a striking array of colorful timbres and propulsive rhythms, needed no enlargement to establish its creative authenticity. ... Working with an almost symbiotic linkage, the two artists soared - individually and in tandem - through performances resembling the swirling, interlaced, endlessly fascinating richness of Arabic calligraphy".

Product Description
A highly acclaimed Oud Duo with bass and Riq (Middle Eastern tambourine) by master Oud player Marcel Khalife. In the words of Mr. Khalife:

"Creativity in Arabic music means a symbiotic relationship between the composer and the musician. It is the result of a continuing harmony and struggle between them . No doubt the oral transmission of music in the East has been a determining factor in the development of the improvisational skills of the musician.

Jadal, however, is an attempt to find new methods of expressing the deeply-rooted spontaneity in Arabic music. It is at a level of artistry that departs from the past, presenting a new challenge to the composer and the musician. Jadal brings forth a unique richness in Arabic music through the search for a new law of aesthetics to replace the old. It is an openness toward an uncharted territory emanating from the familiar .

Jadal, a highly free musical idea, explores the utmost possibilities of the oud".

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect mix of tradition & innovation, October 20, 2000

By	"ragamala78" (USA) - See all my reviews

A friend of mine from Lebanon suggested this album for me. He brought it back for me as a gift after a trip home. I had already learned about traditional ud playing. My friend told me that the classics are great, but that I needed to break out of the tradition for a while. He said the best place to break out of tradition is Marcel Khalife. My friend was right.

Having heard a lot of popular music from a variety of Eastern countries I was pretty frightened to listen to this when my friend told me how good it was. I couldn't believe my ears when I heard this recording. Khalife is a true musical renaissance man. He can do it all. From the traditional maqam to jazz to western classical...he can do it all.

"Jadal" is broken down into four movements (over 2 CDs) and there are little bits and pieces of the variety of styles that have influenced Khalife and his wonderful ud accompaniest Charbel Rouhana. I was amazed at the range of sound this quartet could get out of two uds, a tambourine and a bass.

There is one interesting moment on the 2nd disc where the group lifts a few bars of Beethoven's 5th symphony and then launches back into a brilliant improvisational section. Not only are the ud players superb, the tambourine player is amazing. I was suprised to see how much one can do with a tambourine. Its inspiring. The bass lines are nice too.

They can play tenderly or passionately and everything else in between. At times its very serious at other times its quite playful. This would literally be one of the "albums to take to a deserted island if you could only take 10!"

Even though this is all instrumental, Khalife's other albums are often known for their political tone. This music means a lot to me as an American, I can't imagine what it must mean to the people of Lebanon.

I've heard several of his other albums, and in my opinion this is undoubtedly the best one. The others don't even come close to the quality of this one. Do yourself a favor, pick up this CD today.

Similar music suggestion: Charbel Rouhana's "Salamat" CD.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marcel Khalife in a Class of his own !!!, September 1, 1999

By	[e-mail] "wkhoury" (Dubai, UAE) - See all my reviews

Incredible Harmony of Western and Arabic music to reflect the real Lebanese soul... Great Work.

4.0 out of 5 stars We like it., August 6, 2008

By	Marieclaude S. Coates - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Jadal (Audio CD)

We are enjoying very much, would have prefered older, more classic, but this is very good