Mikołaj Blajda & Orient Express OrchestraMikołaj Blajda - various instruments
Rasm Al-Mashan - vocals
Leszek HeFi Wiśniowski - flute, saxophone
Paweł Dobrowolski - drums
Szeherezada
FILHARMONIA FUTURA
By Adam Baruch
This is an ambitious Jazz-World Fusion project by Polish multi-instrumentalist / composer / arranger / conductor Mikołaj Blajda, which reflects his fascination with Arab culture in general and Arabic music in particular. The project is carried out by a large ensemble, which combines musicians originating from Arab countries, like vocalists Rasm Al-Mashan (living in Poland) and Wissem Karoui, oud player Amine Mraihi and qanun player Hamza Mraihi, who are joined by Polish Jazz musicians like flautist/saxophonist Leszek HeFi Wiśniowski, drummer Paweł Dobrowolski and duduk player Paweł Solecki. A string quartet also takes part in the recording and the leader plays keyboards, bass, flugelhorn and percussion instruments. The album presents nine original compositions all composed by Blajda and arranged by him, and is relatively short lasting well under forty minutes.
As someone who hears original
Arabic music on a daily basis and lives in a geographical location soaked in
Arabic culture, my perspective on this music is obviously quite different from
that of Polish/European public. Therefore I have to start by stating that the
music on this album has relatively little in common with original Arabic music.
It is a Jazz-World fusion project which incorporates some Oriental/Middle
Eastern musical elements, which may sound exotic and carry certain mysticism to
a European listener, but it does not go beyond that as far as being close to
the origin.
Having said that, the album is
a most welcome and certainly beautifully weaved attempt to bring Cultures
together and offers gorgeous melodic themes and excellent performances by all
the musicians involved. European listeners should enjoy the wonderful melodic contents
spiced with the oriental elements, as well as the Jazzier improvised parts,
which come together to create a most enjoyable musical amalgam. The vocal parts
are among the highlights of the album.
Overall this is an ingenious
attempt to bring the riches of Arabic music one step closer to listeners who
have no opportunity to discover them from other sources. It also breaks the
xenophobic barriers between People, emphasizing the universality of Music and
its beauty, which crosses boundaries much easier that ideologies. The album
offers intelligent, well constructed music, which is accessible but makes no
opportunistic compromises. For listeners who are open to music reaching beyond
their immediate environment this is a most enjoyable adventure.
