White Lightning

Thad Jones! Some of his finest recordings on the Fantasy Catalog: The Debut session is probably my favorite among Thad's sessions as a leader. I even prefer them over his the Blue Note albums. Thad's Milestone session "Mean What You Say" session with Co-leader Pepper Adams is also excellent (I disagree with the Pinguin guide on that one) And finally Thad's Period session "Mad Thad" is quite enjoyable. With sidemen such as Flanagan, Watkins and Elvin Jones or Jo Jones and the two Franks it can't be bad.

This is a very very good session, imho. I like it very much, Both Lee and Cliff Jordan are in a terrific shape. I'd grab this one. *********** Actually, this was not a Lee Morgan session, but rather a joint venture of several of Dizzy's 1957 big band. Al Grey, Billy Mitchell and Wynton Kelly also play on that CD. It's a joyful event, if not a great one. Get this CD if you enjoy the special combination of Al Grey and Billy Mitchell I know I do.

Jimmy Cleveland pretty much steals the show from CT on this LP, imho.

Excellent choice, Leeway! I'll spin this CD this weekend!

Happt birthday, David. Have a great and Jazzy year!

I dare you!

Happy 79 B-day to the GROOOOOOOOVE Master

Another Israeli group is: Ziryab Trio Ziryab trio was founded to give a deeper expression of Oriental Art music and its various genres. The members of Ziryab, who are also members of the Bustan Avraham group, decided that besides the ethnic fusion of Bustan Avraham, they want to further explorebe the rich oriental tradition in order to create new and original music. As in Bustan, Ziryab has both Jewish Israeli and Arab Israelis members: Taiseer Elias – Oud; Nassim Dakwar – Violin, Zohar Fresco – Percussion. The ensemble in its instrumental make up is the basis nucleus of any Middle Eastern classical music ensemble (Takht), which usually includes five instruments: Oud, Violin, Qanoun, Riqq (Similar to Tambourine) & Ney (reed flute). Ziryab is performing Arab & Turkish music from the 19th and 20th century. Here's a song (in LoFi, sorry) called Khutwat Habibi (steps of my beloved) by Aboul Wahab – the most famous Arab singer ever. Abdoul Wahab was also an Oud player and a famous composer.

Well known problem. I need it all but I also need to feed my kids… I'd sell my kids on ebay to get the finds needed for these sets if I were you...

Got the same email myself. I NEED it all!!

I'm not sure. Israel's culture is VERY diversed and consists of several sub-cultures, each in a constant change and so is the relation between the different sub-cultures: There are times when any of these sub-cultures clash, while other times they coexist. But it's not just the Israeli culture that causes such ecclectism and perhaps even dissonance that one can hear in Atzmon's music, I believe it is also a represntation of Atzmon's state of mind as well. Atzmon is an Israeli. He is the product of our culture. That is HIS culture and HIS reference group. He chose to exile from his homeland and advocate against Israel. I believe that feeling of detachment and alienation he feels not living in Israel are well represnted in his work. He also makes an analogy between these feelings and the feelings of the Palestinian refugees, forced to live away from their homes for decades.

Mike, have you heard this CD by Abou-Khalil: Tarab It's another of Abou-Khalil more traditional efforts, with no western instruments. It's a very good one imho.

IMHO, "Exile" was one of the best Jazz releases of 2003. I like this CD a lot. In a twisted kinda way, this is one of the most Israeli Jazz CDs I've ever heard (twisted, becasue of Atzmon's hatred towards Israel and Zionism) An interesting comparison can be made between Atzmon and most of Israeli world music groups: While all of these musicians fuse together east and west msucial genres, Atzmon uses his music to advocate antagonism towards the state of Israel as well as a complete identification with the plight of the Palestinians. His music is his soap box and he uses it explicitely and vocally. The Israeli groups treat music as music per se. The facts that these groups blend in their music both Arabic and Jewish musical elements, the musicians are often both Jews and Arabs, convey th subtext of a coexistence and the merits of a pluralistic society. Oh, another difference is the fact that Atzmon has made a choice to live in exile (in his own words) while those Jewish-Israeli groups continue to live and "preach" their philosophy in Israel

Do you have a favorite or favorites among these?

Done! Good idea, Mike

Bustan Avraham A group of seven Arab and Jewish Israelis that came together in 1991. The group’s goal was to develop instrumental music that will combine and confront the different musical cultures without losing its own cultural identity. The name is meaningful: “Bustan” or “Boostan” means a garden in both Arabic and Hebrew and “Avrahham” – Abraham is the father of Isaac and Ishmael, the father of both Jews and Muslims. In Bustan’s musical repertoire you will find Classical Arab music, Classical European music, Jazz, Persian, Turkish and Indian music, Flamenco and American folk. The musical instruments are also a mix or both Middle Eastern instruments, such as Oud, Qanoun, Darbouka etc, and western musical instruments, such as violin (also an eastern instrument), flutes, Classical and Spanish guitars, Bass, Banjo etc. Bustan worked together for 10 years, they performed successfully throughout Israel and toured the world. During the 10 years of its existence, Bustan has recorded 6 albums. In those albums you can find some interesting musical meetings with Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ross Daly and Zakir Hussein. Here are a few of the nice cover art of Bustan's CDs:

Israeli World music: The 90s and 00s in Israel are teeming with world fusion music; a lot of it is excellent. The three main ingredients in Israel’s world (or ethnic) music are: (a) Classical Arab music; (b) Western Culture with all its genres, especially Jazz; © Traditional Jewish music from both Ashkenazi and Sepharadi tradition (European and Arabian Jews). To these ingredients add some Iranian, Turkish, Greek and even Celtic influences and you get a most interesting music scene. And if I dare say – Israel’s world music is one of the best in the world. Why the sudden influx in the 90s? I can try and give many explanations, but I think the main reason was the first Intifadah and the peace process that followed. While mainstream Israeli look down on Arabs, their culture and their values, and that is portrayed also in mainstream Israeli music, quite a few Israelis began to manifest their coexistence beliefs, began to explore the similarities and differences of the different cultures that exists in Israel in order to achieve “a salad bowl” rather than a “melting pot” cultural effect. Naturally, the entire world fusion scene is happening outside of the artistic hub of Israel – Tel Aviv. The three main areas where such fusion attempts are happening are – the Galilee (North Israel), The Negev and Aravah (South Israel) and Jerusalem – where I live. These three areas have both Arabs and Jews living together. Religion and spirituality are vital parts of the fabric of living in these places. Cross-influences are abounding. Equally natural is the musical mainstream establishment constant disregard of that scene. The musical establishment is located in Tel Aviv – Israel’s metropolis. In a generalized description, Tel Avivians are content in living in a Western-secular culture ghetto. Looking down on any attempts to create substantial music outside Tel Aviv boundaries, let alone fusing religious and Arab culture into the music. They regard any artistic attempt done outside their city as backward. Late in this thread, I’ll discuss a few of the main figures in Israel’s world music scene in the 90s and 00s, which, I believe, are prominent figures in music anyplace

Shaheen is a superb Oud player and a composer A little correction: Shaheen is not Iranian, he's an Arab Israeli, born in the Galilee in 1955 and graduated from the Academy of Music in Jerusalem. Later on he moved to NYC.

My initial reaction was: (I think in Japanese, Y'know... ) All of them?! At once?! What happened? then I've notices that you used the verb "comes" rather than "gone".... fffffffewwwwwwwwww (sigh of relief)

Finally – a World Music corner! The musical genre “World Music” is full of “east-meets-west” attempts. I think that a lot of such attempts were done especially in 60s. I believe that the main problem of such cultural meetings is the fact that in most of such meetings one culture overshadows the other. So let’s discuss some of your favorite World music musicians here. I will do my best to introduce you to Israel's world music - one of the best World music scenes in the world, imho. BTW, As much as I dislike the term “world music”, which suggests the usual Anglo-American self-centered approach to the rest of the world, I’m using it in lack of another, more suitable term.

Hang in there, Alison! We are all thinking of you and wishing you well.

So did you vote Rudd or Slide?