Baladi Productions is pleased to announce the release of HOPE, the eighth release from Brothers of the Baladi, a World Beat quintet with a Middle Eastern twist. This CD draws on folk and pop music from a variety of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures with vocals sung in Armenian, Turkish, Arabic and English. The band rocks through Amr Diab's Habibi Nour al Ain (1996 European Song of the Year) and the Kurdish song Guardian, by Ismail Poliat, using layers of ethnic percussion, stinging electric guitars and a groove that can't deny their American Rock roots.
Turkish love songs Salla Sana and Yesilim feature internationally acclaimed Oud player John Bilezikjian, who is also heard on an original, Jerusalem. Another original tune, In The Temporal, adds the wailing double-reeded Turkish Zurna, played by bandleader Michael Beach, and violin by Sulieman Feldthouse. Feldthouse was the leader of the group Kaleidoscope, a ground breaking band from the '60's formed with guitarist David Lindley. He is also heard playing the cumbus, a Turkish fretless banjo, on a folksong, Laz, played in 7/8 time. Arabic vocals by Beach are heard on Foq Ennakhal (with guest vocalist Cheb Djamel), Noura Noura and Ah Nada Nada.
Another Turkish tune, Chapkun Chapkun is followed by the 1936 Armenian classic, Siroon Achcheik. The final cut is Raqs al Beach, a three minute percussion piece that is every belly dancer's dream--shifting rhythms and tempos that crescendo into a swirling, exciting finale.
Michael Beach is a master of international percussion, playing all the hand
drums (Davul, Tabla, Darbuka and Tabl Beledi) and frame drums (Riq, Mezhar and Def) as well as timbales and percussion. Beach sings lead vocals with bassist J. Michael Kearsey and keyboardist Geoff George. Kit drummer Dennis Elmer and multi-guitarist Brad Rapp round out the group.
HOPE is a CD that appeals to all who know the Middle East as a cultural
melting pot of exotic rhythms, voicings and language. The world has embraced
Celtic, Latin and other hybrid music genres. Now a new fusion of Middle
Eastern music is available. HOPE is a CD that brings the Brothers of the
Baladi to the forefront of World Music: traditional, eclectic, adventurous
and electric.
Based in Portland, Oregon, Brothers of the Baladi have been faithful to the
heritage of Middle Eastern music since 1975. The Los Angeles Times calls
their music "a sound that knows no borders." HOPE is the CD that will cross
musical borders to find those who will love, listen and dance to this new
mix of Middle Eastern and American music.
CONTACT: BALADI PRODUCTIONS (503) 288-4684 or (503) 235-3071 www.baladi.com
DISTRIBUTION: BURNSIDE DISTRIBUTION (503) 231-0876 bdcdistribution.com
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.baladi.comTrack List:
1. Guardian
2. Foq Ennakhal
3. Habibi - Nour al Ain
4. Laz
5. Ah Nada Nada
6. In the Temporal
7. Raqs al Beach
8. Chapkun Chapkun
9. Yeshilim
10. Siroon Achcheik
11. Salla Sana
12. Noura Noura
13. Jerusalem
Other Genres:
