Oxfam Arabia

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 29, 2003)
• Original Release Date: August 25, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: World Music Network
• ASIN: B0000AQVCV
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #192,494 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Tulbah (Proposition) - El-Funoun

2. Taal Zaman - Natacha Atlas & Transglobal Underground

3. Agee Jump - MoMo

4. Breeze In Bisaan - Simon Shaheen & Qantara

5. We Daret El Ayam - Mahmoud Fadl

6. Mali Ha Mali - Abdou

7. Remembering Machghare - Rabih Abou Khalil

8. Yo Rayah - Dahmane El Harrachi

9. Bitzid Min 'Adhabi (She Increases My Pain) - Abdel Gadir Salim

10. Mabruk - Ali Hassan Kuban

11. Min Ashur Lla Ishbiliya (From Assur To Seville) - Naseer Shamma

12. Dandana - Warda

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Musical Survey of the Arab World, October 2, 2006

By 

Zekeriyah (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Oxfam Arabia (Audio CD)

This compilation, put together as a benefit for the OXFAM charities in the Middle East, showcases the incredible diversity and beauty of Arabic music. Seeing as how Arabic language is spoken in over 25 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, from Morocco to Iraq, that means theres a great variety of styles, instruments and sounds to cover. Nonetheless, this CD does quite a wonderful job at showcasing the many and varied sounds of Arabic music.

The classical and haunting sounds of the 'ud, the center of much of Arabic classical music, are showcased by Naseer Shamma of Iraq on "Min Ashur ila Ishbiliya" (a song which shows influences from ancient Mesopotamia to Flameco-sounding Andalusian music). Cross-dressing pop star Abdou showcases Algerian rai, while Momo's "Agee Jump" offers a new generation of Arabic electronica. The song "Ya Rayeh" by Dahmane el Harrachi, later made famous when it was remixed by Rachid Taha, is featured here in it's original splendour. Classical artists like Warda and Mahmoud Fadl are presented beside the always popular Natacha Atlas, who is accompanied by Transglobal Undergound on the beautifully exotic "Taal Zaman", complete with an Egyptian orchestra sound. Other highlights include Palestinean Simon Shaheen and his Qantara orchestra, Rabih Abou Khalil's Lebanese jazz, 'ud virtuoso Abdel Gadir Salim and El-Funoun performing a traditional folk song from Palestine. Even Nubian traditions are featured, thanks to the late Ali Hassan Kuban.

All in all, this is an essential purchase for any lovers of Arabic musical traditions. In total theres over an hour of music, featuring some of the greatest musicians in the Arabic speaking world (though by no means all; plenty of great names like Abdel Halim Hafez, Fairouz and so forth were left out). And best of all, for each CD purchased, World Music Network makes a donation to OXFAM to help with their international aid in the Middle East, which includes work to help earthquake victims in southern Yemen, the impoverished Bedouin tribes of Israel's Negev, and those left homeless or injured by the war in Iraq. So buy this CD, because it's a purchase you can feel good about making.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great intro to Arabian music, November 12, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Oxfam Arabia (Audio CD)

But watch out for track six. It is full of fuzz and buzz and sounds like an engineering goof. Otherwise, fine recording quality throughout.