Didier Malherbe & Loy Ehrlich: Hadouk

By

DAVE HUGHES,

Dave Hughes

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Published: April 1, 2000

Here's a CD that should have appeal for those into the "world music" scene.   Didier Malherbe and Loy Ehrlich employ a wide range of wind and percussion instruments, plus occasional stringed instruments, from eastern Europe and Africa in an engaging set of earthy yet intricate tunes.  There's little jazz here, in the traditional sense, but the program abounds with interesting rhythms and light improvization on each of the tunes' basic motifs, many of which are quite catchy and memorable.  (Zebra Acoustic ZA 44409)

Tracks:Hadouk; Vol De Nuit; Dame Des Sables; Loukoumotive; Bal Des Oiseaux; Effarvatte; Montaulieu; Callibistri; Marsyas; Caspienne Blues. (45:29)

Personnel:

Didier Malherbe - doudouk (Armenian double reed), ocarinas, bamboo clarinet, bamboo flute, Ukranian double recorder; soprano saxophone; Jew's harp; wood drum; cymbals; zeff (circular plastic flute);  Loy Ehrlich - hajouj (Moroccan Gnawas' bass), aouicha (small hajouj), bolong (African hunter's guitar), kora (African harp), sanza-m'bira (African thumb piano), ukulele, tablas, djembe, keyboards; Steve Shehan - percussion, calabash, shekere.

Record Label: Zebra Records | Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream