Anouar Brahem – Blue Maqams (2xLP)

In May of this year, he recorded nine songs at the Avatar Studios in New York. The production was taken over by ECM founder Manfred Eicher.

In addition to Brahem on the Arabic short-necked lute, "Blue Maqams" features three other jazz giants: pianist Django Bates, drummer Jack DeJohnette and Dave Holland on double bass. The oud player already worked with the latter 20 years ago for his album "Thimar".

With their album "Blue Maqams", Anouar Brahem and Gäste 2017 once again show how well jazz and oriental sounds fit together.

"Like stars in the sky above the medina of Tunis shine the sounds Brahem produces with his three fellow players Django Bates (piano), Dave Holland (bass) and Jack DeJohnette (drums)." (Stereo, November 2017)

"This is how a typical ECM quartet plate is made only that instead of a guitar, the Oud drives, underlays, comments, takes off on the way to the 'place where something is erected', a translation by Maqam. The recording and press quality "are maintaining the high level of ECM that they are used to." (Good Times, December 2017 / January 2018)