Wasla

Looking back over the last 20 years, it's amazing how the oud has risen from rank-and-file member of the takht (Middle Eastern classical music ensemble) to the starring role of solo instrument. In the hands of the current generation of players, it has ventured into new musical areas but sometimes it is pure joy to hear good old-fashioned classical playing, brilliantly executed. Tarek Abdallah is a young Egyptian performer of exemplary pedigree who explores the traditional maqam (Eastern modes) through the structure of the wasla, or suite of pieces. Much like his mentor, the brilliantly quixotic Abdo Dagher, Abdallah's playing is firmly rooted in Egyptian classical music, yet infused with a dazzling spark of individuality; something perfectly demonstrated in the opening track, his own playful revisiting of a traditional sama’i – an instrumental in 10/8 rhythm.

The fluid relationship between the freedom of the oud and Adel Shams El-Din's precisely structured percussion is striking and lays the foundation for this recording's success. Tarek Abdallah proves that you don’t have to redefine a genre to create something vivid, fresh and wonderful.