Sabîl

Time was when Palestinian musicians only got an airing if they snuck in on the dull-but-politically-worthy ticket. How things have changed. Ahmad Al Khatib is the latest in a succession of dazzlingly imaginative oud (Arab lute) players to have emerged from the region in the last few years, following in the wake of Trio Joubran, Adel Salameh and a host of others. Khatib's music is based on the Middle Eastern tradition of oud improvisation, though his playing also shows an individuality of style informed by his experience of growing up in a Jordanian refugee camp, living in the occupied West Bank and his current life in Sweden.

This is his first recording to be widely released in Europe and, whilst it's hard to understand why it took so long, it also means that many of us are meeting a ravishingly confident performer for the first time. Percussionist Youssef Hbeisch is quite rightly given equal billing, as his contributions go way beyond a mere supporting role: he even manages to construct a near-perfect five minute solo on ‘Li Alix’. The interplay between the two players is both inventive and natural, a finely-judged balance of elegance and passion. The Arab world now has a rich crop of young virtuoso oud players vying for our attention: this is one that you really should take notice of.