MICHAEL BEACH / BROTHERS OF THE BALADI: Hands of a Thousand Dances

Michael Beach / Brothers of the Baladi

Hands of a Thousand Dances

© 2003 ASCAP

CD permanently out of stock. Sorry!

This is Michael Beach's [ from Brothers of the Baladi ] solo CD. Most of it is a collection of many different types of traditional and nontraditional drum pieces on many different Middle Eastern drums and percussion.

tracks

1 Welcome
2 Ana wa Tablatee
3 La Casa de Malfouf
4 Chez Samai
5 Raqs Delilah
6 When I See the Dancers Dancing
7 Bir Dakika
8 The Riq Stands Alone
9 In a Masmoudi Mood
10 The Green Onion
11 Saidi Street
12 Menage a Tar
13 Baladi Backbeat
14 Leylet Arghool
15 Oud Out of Time
16 Hands and Sticks
17 Til Next Time

notes

Hands of a Thousand Dances
Michael Beach Solo CD
From Brothers of the Baladi
BLD CD 9

Hands of a Thousand Dances represents another example of Michael Beach's love affair and journey with Middle Eastern Music.

Most of the CD is a collection of many different types of traditional and non-traditional Middle Eastern drums and percussion.

Beach demonstrates his expertise on Vocals, Doumbek / Arabic Tabla, Riq/Daff. Def/Framedrums. Davul, Drum Kit, Zils, Arghool, Keyboards and Percussion. As Founder [1975], Lead Vocalist and Drummer of Brothers of the Baladi - a national touring five piece Middle Eastern/World Music band based in Portland, Oregon - Beach does what he does best on his many drums but he also takes a few unexpected turns that spin his tradtional sounds into the 21 st century.

His tradtional drum pieces will not only ignite and delight many Belly Dancers but will also further Michael's cause: " That people around the world need to hear his much loved Middle Eastern music because if they heard it they would like it ". Raqs Delilah, Casa de Malfouf and Saidi Street are multi-tracked forays into the world of Middle Eastern drums and rhythms. He even tailored a one and a two minute drum solo [Bir Dakika and In a Masmoudi Mood] just for the legions of Brothers and Sisters of the Dance.

In 1991 Beach released his Basic Middle Eastern Rhythms instructional series that incorporated drum kit with tradtional Middle Eastern drums and rhythms. A true innovator, his Baladi Backbeat and Hands and Sticks again successfully marries the Western drum kit with Middle Eastern drums.

There are drums galore on this CD but The Riq Stands Alone and Manage a' Tar feature some of the eldest ancestors of our modern percussion instruments. Another ancestor of the saxaphone is the arghool - the Arabic folkloric/tribal reeded cane flute. All ears are transported to another world when Beach plays his arghool on Leylet Arghool [Night of the Arghool].

The Green Onion is a four part Persian piece that features the zarb - the classical wooden Persian drum. It caravans through many different tempos, styles and emotions. Along with the many tradtional pieces here, Beach also sings in Farsi on his own When I See the Dancers Dancing. It is a raw heartfelt gazel [vocal improvisation] in the Persian style that translates to " When I see the dancers dancing I speak with my soul and it comes through my hands onto my my drum. "
The most distinct turn though is a cutting edge dance remix called Oud Out of Time produced by DJ Robbie Weisenberg.

Baladi bandmate J. Michael Kearsey adds some subliminal bottom end and longtime Brother of the Brothers Stephen Skaggs introduces and concludes Hands of a Thousand Dances with Oud Mood - a striking improvisation on the Oud [the Middle Eastern lute].

Rhythms of the Middle East are in the soul and hands of Michael Beach - many more than " a thousand dances " will know this CD.

Brothers of the Baladi www.baladi.com 503/288-4684

reviews

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  • excellent CD
    author: Tabarri

    This is an excellent example of Middle Eastern Drumming techniques and rhythms; with some great additions, like #16 Hands and Sticks, a kit played behind a dumbek. Dancers and drummers both will enjoy this 100%.

  • Great learning tool
    author: Laura Sutherland

    This cd provides great rhythms. I can put this cd on and practice basic beats and then learn the embellishments. It has even encouraged me to add some fills of my own. Thank you!

  • Love this CD--it is a wonderful mix--great to drum along to!!
    author: mary lee --Shiva Designs

    I really love this and all of the Brother's CDs--This one really show the range and beats drums can do --with a talent like Michael that is!!. It is also a great CD to play your drum(s)with --you have an instant drum circle with this CD!

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