Rabih Abou-Khalil: The Cactus Of Knowledge (2009)

The musical traditions of the Arabic world are fused with jazz improvisation and European classical techniques by Lebanese-born oud player and composer Rabih Abou-Khalil. The CMJ New Music Report noted that Abou-Khalil has "consistently sought to create common ground between the Arab music mileau of his roots and the more global musical world of today." Down Beat praised Abou-Khalil's music as "a unique hybrid that successfully spans the world of traditional Arabic music and jazz." Although he learned to play the oud, a fretless, Lebanese lute, as a youngster, Abou-Khalil temporarily switched to the classical flute, which he studied at the Academy of Music after moving to Munich, Germany, during the Lebanese Civil War in 1978. In an attempt to explore new ways to play Arabic music, he returned to the oud and began to incorporate techniques more often played on jazz guitar. In the early-'90s, Abou-Khalil was commissioned by Southwest German radio to write two pieces that were debuted in a performance with the Kronos String Quartet at the Stuttgart Jazz Summit in 1992, and recorded with the Belanescu Quartet four years later. Abou-Khalil has worked with a mixture of Arabic, Indian, and American jazz musicians, including alto saxophonist Sonny Fortune, frame drummer and percussionist Glen Valez, conga player Milton Cardona, harmonica ace Howard Levy, and bassists Glen Moore and Steve Swallow.

Musicians:
- Rabih Abou-Khalil / oud
- Vincent Courtois / cello
- Gabriele Mirabassi / clarinet
- Jarrod Cagwin / drums
- Nabil Khaiat / mizhar, riq
- Dave Bargeron / euphonium
- Tom Varner / French horn
- Antonio Hart / alto saxophone
- Ellery Eskelin / tenor saxophone
- Dave Ballou / trumpet
- Eddie Allen / trumpet
- Michel Godard / tuba


Tracklist:
01. Fraises et Crème Fraîche
02. The Lewinsky March
03. Business As Usual
04. Got To Go Home
05. Oum Saïd
06. Ma Muse M'amuse
07. Bonus Track: The Lewinsky March (Live Recording)

Features:
- Direct Scene Access
- Interactive Menu