Kamal Musallam
On a Jordan River's Side
© 2003 kamal Musallam, K&G Productions (634479041273)
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Contemporary Middle Eastern Jazz Rock with distant echoes of Pat Metheny, John Mclaughlin and Santana
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As I sit pondering the piece of Palestrina polyphony, a technique used both by Stanley Jordan - handyman of Jazz – and most bootleg DJs, there’s me thinking I’m already familiar with most complex of global music genres. But as I call up thirty-three year old Jordanian guitarist Kamal Musallam I realize I’m to discover another. Arabic Jazz? It may not sound that multifarious but I had never heard the two musical categories played together before.
‘I like to express my Middle Eastern influence as well as my western knowledge into the music I play,’ says the full time musician who began learning the accordion at the tender age of three, the guitar at eight, and as a teenager taught himself the Arabic classics on the oud. ‘I spent six years in the west in Switzerland and France (where I learnt about Jazz) although my roots are, well, primarily Jordanian but I lived in Kuwait for nine years, Lebanon for some time and now in the UAE.’
With such travel comes much extensive musical authority and it’s no wonder that Musallam’s debut, ‘On A Jordan River’s Side’, produced under his own label K&G, has taken him some years to compose and perfect. He doesn’t like to classify his album of genre flute and Spanish guitar melodies as Arabic Jazz, but there are undeniable swing beats played under riffs of the mysterious oud which you can’t fail to notice. ‘I’m searching to reach a cross between middle Eastern and Mediterranean with a jazzy touch,’ says the Rahabani, Pat Metheny and Farid El Atrash-influenced artist. And he has quite possibly found it. It’s an album with an unusual mix of styles that sometimes lapses into cheese, but the album has an overall sense of patent talent and mixed bag that he has been looking for.
The UAE got a taste of Musallam’s work when he opened for the Abu Dhabi Jazz Festival last year. He’ll be playing The Big One at the end of this month and is keen to blow his musical gusto on stage at the new Jazz series that began last December at Dubai Media City.
-Extract from: TIME-OUT Dubai, January 2004, ‘Local Lyrical’ by Charlotte McDonald.
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On a Jordan's River's Side
author: Emoke SulyokLoved it, I have been listening to jazz for years, having the Middle Eastern influence that Mussallam adds so beautifuly is a pleasant treat. Looking forward to purchasing his latest CD- Out of My City (I think is the name of it). Haven't found it yet.
Amazing
Who knew such music existed? This is wonderful.
que l'on soit bleu, blanc, rouge ou sans melanine l'essentiel est d'être clean.
author: Adil Lahkimwaiting for a contact from Morocco...Rabat. Mawazine Festival, so u are a greater artist, architect, powter, phtograph and pinter ; from a brother i hope you diddn't forget.
Great guitar from unexpected places
author: John HendersonThis is off the hook!!!! Kamal fuses jazz with middle eastern phrases and throws in the Oud just to make it intresting. This guy can play and its a dirty shame that he isnt getting more exposure.
“Levant” Jazz re-invited! A new Philosophy in Jazz...
author: SamerThe music discloses an exceptional taste. An alluring hybrid of oriental passion and charming Jazz. A delightful mixture of good music and deep reflection… If it was a book it would have been fair to say it is “Simply unputdownable!!!”
..WOW..it rings!
My God..that's it..just what we were looking for ..a real fusion..a smooth one between those 2 completely different worlds...the Arabic Jazz...and what a fusion!!...many have tried to do it before, but honestly this one is someting..it's different and smooth and it does fuse the 2 things and take you somewhere else without you knowing it...!! just a new secret spice mix!!great job guys..keep the good work..i invite everyone to just have this CdD in their selected corner!!
i miss you cousin
author: hisham el shemalywhen i first listened to this disk i was inspiered and motivated to fallow all my dreams and sensations.i realy loved this music.
a great work of art
author: Rizgari can only say its a quite new style invented by my master kamal the guy who taught me alot about jazz and music in all. i have a very strong confident in kamal and i say this only a start for more great works and brighter future.
- author: assaad lakkis
kamal has done a great job with his vision of oriental-fusion-jazz, it is very inspriring to know that great musicians are coming out of the mideast, and he is one with no exceptions. The music is a reflection of articulated sounds that vibrate from lost cities and into our hearts of freedom... I have seen him live and the man takes you on a journey of the unknown...
A Piece of Art !
author: Khaled MousaOne would definitely need an hour a day of such spirit lifting music...
Soothing, relaxing, and diverse - a great compilation!
I found this compilation great with many great tracks! I would definately recommend it and would love to see him play in person. Thank God for such great talent.
Excellent music! Hope to see him performing very soon in Canada at the Jazz Fes
author: Lara ChemaliListening to Jordan River's Side, Kamal Musallam welcomes you to an oasis of both sides of the river: Eastern and Western music. Excellent music! Hope to see him performing very soon in Canada at the Jazz Festival!
Very nicely done
author: Charles TradVery original with great mixes between oriental and mediteranian Jazz. Would love to see him play in person.
as good as ever, kamal ..... keep the good work
author: Sultan Dehnehan inspiring artist with great talent
author: Dara Ibrahimthe music portrayed in "On a Jordan River's Side" shows the artists belief & passion for modern Jazz! This CD album is perfect for allowing the music to take control of your spirit!