Rabih Abou-Khalil
Rabih Abou-Khalil not only integrated classical Arabic musical ideas into western improvisational music and jazz but also started experimenting with traditional musical genres from other parts of the world. In his first seven recordings for Enja, MMP and ECM he experimented with fusing traditional Arabic musical ideas and scales with jazz. With Al-Jadida and Blue Camel both recorded in the early 90s he started introducing Turkish musical elements into jazz. He continued to experiment with Arabic, Turkish and Western musical forms fused with jazz until 2004 when another career defining CD Morton’s Foot was released. On this record he adds the accordion of Luciano Biondini and the vocals of Sardinian singer Gavino Murgia whose style is reminiscent of Tibetan throat singing.
In the late 90s he hosted Visions of Music a 13-part documentary series that explored through musician interviews and film footage the blending of jazz with different world traditional music including Caribbean salsa, Brazilian samba, Argentine tango, French musette, Spanish flamenco, Jewish klezmer, African, Indian and Arabic music, and New Orleans R&B.
He has performed in over 100 music festivals worldwide and has worked with an international cast of musicians including Sonny Fortune, Kenny Wheeler, Glenn Velez and Steve Swallow. In addition to composing, performing and recording music he designs his own CD covers in the traditional style of Arabic calligraphy and non-figurative art.
He lives in Munich with his wife and 2 children.
Tags
Album Review
- Morton's Foot by John Kelman
- Morton's Foot by AAJ Staff
- Morton by Jim Santella
- Journey to the Centre of an Egg by AAJ Staff
- Journey to the Centre of an Egg by Jim Santella
- Songs For Sad Women by Ian Patterson
- Em Portugues by Ian Patterson
Live Review
Interview
Live Review
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