Record Reviews

IBRAHIM TRIO ~ LIVE AT MANGGHA - EAST MEETS WEST NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024 This is the 2nd album by Syrian (resident in Poland) oud player / vocalist / composer Wassim IbrahimFind albums by this artist, this time recorded in a trio setting with two excellent Polish musicians, Hurdy-gurdy player / keyboardist Joachim MencelFind albums by this artist and drummer Szymon MadejFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded live at the beautiful Japanese Culture museum Manggha in Krakow (a must visit when in the city). It presents six lengthy tracks, two composed by Ibrahim, one each by Mencel and Madej, one is by the legendary Lebanese singer / composer Zaki NassifFind albums by this artist and one is a traditional tune. All the music was arranged by the trio members. The music, although based on wonderful melodic themes, is largely improvised and mostly instrumental, not surprisingly with a strong Middle Eastern flavor. The completely native musical environment for Ibrahim, was splendidly adopted by the two Poles, who sound as if they played football with Ibrahim in the narrow streets of Damascus since childhood. Mencel manages to make the hurdy-gurdy and keyboards sound similar to Middle Eastern reed instruments, and Madej rhythmic approach sound as genuine as if he spent many hours riding camels. Ibrahim is a Master oud player and his vocals are absolutely heartbreaking. In short, I am sorry that I couldn’t be there to listen to this music live, but this album surely captures the magic in full. With the recent and unexpected changes in Syria, perhaps the prospect for me and Wassim having coffee in Damascus, accompanied by some sublime sweets, like knafeh and baklava, is just one little step closer to reality, Inshallah! Overall, this is a lovely, deeply moving example of Middle Eastern music, which Ibrahim makes as native and natural as possible, away from his hometown, with the help of his wonderful musician friends. Warmly recommended to all listeners who love the improvised nature of Middle Eastern music and its heartwrenching melodies. Thank you, my Friend!

Updated: 09/01/2025Posted: 09/01/2025

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WASSIM IBRAHIM ~ PIESNI LEWANTU NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ World Music & Folklore Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 The distance between Haifa, where I live, and Damascus, where Wassim IbrahimFind albums by this artist was born, is only 144 kilometers. If we lived in a normal world, this would have been just an easy one hour ride on a motorway. But no, we don’t live in a normal world and I can’t travel to Damascus to visit Wassim and have a coffee together and listen to him sing, in his beautiful city, which used to be for many centuries one of the epicenters of Middle Eastern science, philosophy, poetry, trade, music, gastronomy and yes, also co-existence. Instead, we meet virtually via Poland, the country where I was born and he now lives, makes music, sings and teaches in the beautiful historic city of Krakow. On this album Wassim sings eleven beautiful mostly love songs, which originate in Syria and surrounding countries, mostly Folk songs, which to Polish listeners might sound strange, and “oriental”, but to me sound completely familiar, as if my own, a music which I learned to love over the decades of my life here, in the Levant. Wassim accompanies himself playing the oud, the most widespread instrument in our region, and is accompanied only by percussion player Tomas Celis SanchezFind albums by this artist, born in Mexico and now also living in Poland, who might have passed easily as “one of us”, judging by the way he plays the darbuka, skillfully maneuvering through the intricate rhythmic patterns that characterize this music. I can only think of one reason why Wassim would release this album in Poland; he is obviously seriously homesick and these songs that he must have heard from his early childhood are for him a “home away from home”. But of course this is also a wonderful window into the Middle Eastern culture, perhaps a first step for people who might discover the musical treasures of the Levant via this music. The album is beautifully packaged in a highly Artistic, aesthetically designed and very informative packaging with bi-lingual texts, and the recording quality is just spot on. Overall, this a superb piece of Middle Eastern music, intimate and completely personal, which displays just one of the infinite number of facets that the local Culture has to offer. People unfamiliar with this music might be somewhat taken aback at first, but it does not take long to discover the beauty of this music, and join the magic carpet ride over Damascus streets and markets. Mabruk WaShukran Wassim!

Updated: 23/03/2023Posted: 23/03/2023

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WOJCIECH LUBERTOWICZ ~ BRZASK NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ World Music & Folklore Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish multi-instrumentalist / composer Wojciech LubertowiczFind albums by this artist. Oud player Mateusz SzemrajFind albums by this artist guests on three tracks. The album presents eleven tracks, all composed by Lubertowicz, except two, which were co-composed with Szemraj. In the last decade or so Lubertowicz appeared on numerous Folklore / World Music recordings released on the Polish scene, as instrumentalist, arranger, producer and recording engineer, adding a significant input but mostly remaining rather in the shadows, and this is his first outing where his musical preferences and tendencies are dominating the proceedings. He is a highly skilled player of many instruments, mostly those originating from the Middle East, like duduk, ney, dulcimer and various drums and percussion instruments. For a blind-test listener unaware of Lubertowicz’ background, the immediate reaction would be of course that the music is performed by a Middle-Eastern musician and originates from that region. As someone closely exposed to that music some delicate hints might rise a brow, but the aesthetic authenticity and heartfelt fascination with that musical Culture is undeniable. The album presents the wide scope of the instruments Lubertowicz feels comfortable with and the participation of Szemraj, who works in a similar musical environment, was an ideal choice. Hopefully next time Lubertowicz will involve Wassim IbrahimFind albums by this artist, a Syrian Master musician living in Poland, to collaborate with him, which might be truly magnificent. I feel completely at home with this music of course, and the hidden Polish accents behind the Middle-Eastern exterior are absolutely marvelous. Lubertowicz knows exactly what he is doing and his minimalism and honesty are convincing and moving. I have always admired his input on the previous albums that he took part in, and this full-fledged project is a true wonder, which deserves to be heard around the world. Overall, this is a beautiful album, which resents Middle-Eastern motifs and atmospheres in a minimalist setting, splendidly performed and perfectly recorded, offering genuinely the mysticism and emotions of the Culture at its most attractive form. Hats off!

Updated: 26/06/2025Posted: 26/06/2025

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