Entity

This album is from Belgium, a nation seemingly adept at encouraging musical collaborations between different communities – Voxtra's The Encounter of Vocal Heritage being both the best a capella and fusion album of 2016. Qotob Trio are the opposite of Voxtra, in the sense that there are almost no vocals – just three musicians using their instruments to do the singing. Also, the references in this project involve both Arabic and European classical music and jazz, with the overall fusion being closer to the European tradition. Which is to say that this graceful album of cello, piano and accordion is closer to the ambient fusion albums that the jazz label ECM specialises in. Syrian cellist Bassel Abou Fakher only arrived in Belgium in 2016 and had led a version of Qotob in Damascus. Here his Arabic references provide decorative elements but not a core part of the sound – perhaps being new to Europe he is overwhelmed by his Belgian bandmates' technique. Entity is beautifully performed and recorded, but a stronger emphasis on Arabic tradition would make for a more striking album.