The Rough Guide to Arabic Jazz

Some shocking musical crimes have been committed in the name of Arabic jazz: the number of unremarkable CDs of unbridled noodlings on an Eastern scale are legion. However, this excellent compilation brings together the very best exponents of the genre and heroically saves its tawdry reputation. Listening to this broad range of performances it's clear that, while not all the musicians playing have a deep understanding of both Middle Eastern music and jazz, they most certainly have something original and creative to share. It's also intriguing just how different the approaches to this fusion can be; from Renaud Garcia-Fons’ poignant solo double-bass playing on ‘Sinai’, through the edgy intensity of Trio Joubran to Ahmad Kaabour's bouncy ‘Abou Afif’. Somehow, the masterful Anouar Brahem missed the list but after nine minutes of Maurice El Médioni's glorious Cuban-Algerian extravaganza on the closing track, this is easily forgiven. The bonus CD is an album by jazz fusion band Hijaz.