Search - Rabih Abou-Khalil :: Between Dusk & Dawn

Middle-East Fusion

Dave_42 | Australia | 02/15/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

""Between Dusk And Dawn" was originally recorded in 1986, and released in 1987. The style is a blend of middle-east style music with jazz improvisation, which makes for an interesting combination. Rabih Abou-Khalil composed all the pieces on this album, although "The Thing That Came Out Of The Swamp" was a joint effort with Michael Armann. "Nightfall" and "Dawn" are two of my favorite pieces on the album.



The musicians bring a wide variety of instruments, which clearly has a large influence on the sound and feel of each track. The musicians are: Rabih Abou-Khalil (oud, flute), Charlie Mariano (soprano and alto saxophones), Glenn Moore (bass), Glen Velez (frame drums, darabukka, percussion, overtone singing), Ramesh Shotham (South Indian percussion), Christian Burchard (marimba), and Michael Armann (piano)."

Middle eastern sounds + jazz = listening satisfaction

The Delite Rancher | Phoenix, Arizona | 08/29/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Rabih Abou-Khalil's CD covers tend to be remarkable artistic accomplishments. The graphics set the mood for what is usually the equally outstanding music contained within. Out of Abou-Khalil's discography, the cover for "Between Dusk and Dawn" may be the most ordinary. While the cover may be the least interesting, the music is as exquisite as the rest of Abou-Khalil's esteemed discography. The style of music fits Abou-Khalil's signature sound that combines Middle Eastern sounds with jazz. In this environment, the oud is accompanied by a large group that echoes ensembles played in Northern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and Turkey. Acting as bookends, 'Dusk' is the first track while 'Dawn' almost closes the experience. Everything else is what happens "Between Dusk and Dawn." 'Bat Dance' is a fast piece that features a challenging arrangement. In this composition, the drums really shine. The most unusual song may be 'The Thing That Came Out Of The Swamp.' While different because it features a marimba, it is the avant-garde improvisation that sets the piece apart. As expected, there are many times when the group gives Abou-Khalil space to showcase the oud. Indeed, "Between Dusk and Dawn" features a balance of slow and fast tempo music. Charlie Mariano's saxophones often recall Jan Garbarek's work on albums like "Ragas and Sagas" and "Madar." While the concept was inspired by the evening, "Between Dusk and Dawn" is another Rabih Abou-Khalil disc that sounds great at any time."