Zephirus
Hijaz : Chemsi (B/TN,MO,2011)*****
What started as an Arab-jazz fusion project led by dialogues of jazz piano and oud, Hijaz second album takes the band to a next level thanks to a few extra professional and experienced musicians. The compositions are complex, but still light and infused with improvisation, under the foundation of a strong rhythmic complexity with drums and percussion. Never has this sort of fusion sounded more natural and fresh thanks to a powerful young energy that can only be achieved at this professional level. Themes of oud, piano, rhythm (tabla with Middle eastern percussion and drums, mixed with a jazz idea of improvisation too), or nay flute bring in different atmosphere while the tempo changes now and then and the melodic themes finish off the compositions well. The band claims they were influenced by the approach of Rabih Abou-Khalil, although the last one sounds more academic and less dynamic and spontaneous than this band. Besides they have many talents brought together to combine in a group energy, which is an absolute plus. For Arab-jazz fusion this is one of the best examples of how this works.
Hijaz on this album is Tunesian oud master player Moufadhel Adhoum on oud (1-8) and bendir (2) (-he studied in Tunisia and Belgium, is also founder of Shahnez-), Greek-Belgian pianist Niko Dema on piano (1-8), Belgian Vincent Noiret on bass (1-8), Tunesian Houssem Bel Kadhi on nay (1,5,7,8) and bendir (2), Belgian jazz drummer Christer Aerts on drums (1-8) (some other bands of his include Deep, C.A. Band, Balaxy Orchestra, Assunta Mano,..), Armenian Vardan Hovanissian on doudouk (1-3,5-6) and sh’vi (6) (he is also in group Arax with another member of Israel and Algeria), Morrocan Azzedine Jazouli (who mastered in Andalusian percussion in Fez, Morocco) on tbila and def (1), derbouka (2,3) and bendir (2), req (3,7,8), deholla (5), tbila and brutage (6) (-he also works with the peace orchestra of Goran Bregovic-), Tcha Limberger on violin (3,5,8), Moufadel Adhoum on whispering (1), and with Indian-French Prabhu Edouard on tabla (4,7).
