Two talented Arab musicians and their bands played unique Arabian influenced jazz at the Royal Opera House Muscat on Tuesday, impressing the audience with their innovative music.
The concert featured Tunisian violinist, Yasmine Azaiez and Syrian clarinettist, Kinan Azmeh, both of whom turn to their Arab roots to add different rhythms and melodies to their jazz compositions.
Azaiez took to the stage for the first half of the concert, accompanied by her band which included Peter Godart on piano, Steve Langone on drums, Phil Aelony on guitar, Brad Barrett on electric bass and Mohammed Abdelkather Bel Haj Kacem on percussion.
Though she is a classically trained violinist, Azaiez clearly has a passion for improvising and her music is an adventurous exploration of Arab, Latin and jazz rhythms. While it doesn't always sound like jazz, it is upbeat, interesting and new. The real strength in her music is the play between the jazz drummer and Arab percussion, whose rhythms blend together beautiful.
Azaiez is loaded with talent and plays with obvious joy. Her weaknesses, which perhaps can be attributed to her youth, included neglecting to introduce her band and prompting the audience to clap for the other musicians, rather than letting them decide when to applaud based on their own reactions to the performances.
Following the intermission Azmeh and his 'Cityband', which includes guitar player Kyle Sanna, drummer John Hadfield and bass player Josh Myers, played a set of smoother, mellower jazz. Azmeh's music is sensual and seductive, laden with emotion and experiences of being Syrian, from being detained in airports for carrying a Syrian passport to happy memories of wedding celebrations.
Azmeh, who is based in New York City, has been deeply affected by the four-year conflict in Syria, and paid tribute to those suffering with his music. He dedicated one of the songs to Syrian refugees and one to the Syrian people who have still found love despite the ongoing war.
Subdued mood
Though the overall mood of the evening was subdued, as the concert was good but not great, there were a couple of highlights. Azaiez delighted the audience with her rendition of a traditional Tunisian song Sidi Mansour. Azmeh and his band also played a song composed by their guitar player, Kyle Sanna, called Woods, a dreamy piece that begins with a bass intro, followed by gentle percussion, soft guitar and finally smooth clarinet, which was simply sublime.
The concert, called 'A Night of Arabic Jazz,' was an example of how two seemingly different genres of music can be united to create something moving and beautiful.
By Sarah Macdonald
