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I love Anouar Brahem so don't expect an "objective" review, music is never objective, at least good music isn't! This is a jazz album for starters, not a world album as such, having said that, the compositions are beautiful, the playing superb and the sound, well it is an ECM recording, enough said. This is similar to Brahem's "Thimar" trio recording from years ago, Brahem with Holland and Surman, two jazz musicians reproducing a Middle-East sound, "Blue Maqams" is a quartet recording which is even more "jazz" than "Thimar" yet the oud is central to the music. The quartet, Holland on bass again, DeJohnette on drums and Django Bates on piano with Brahem on oud is just superb, no other word for it, Holland was made for this music and setting and once heard, I cannot imagine another bassist coming close, he has been missed on ECM! The compositions are superb, you will hear that word a lot with this recording, and range from moments of solo playing, duos and the full quartet. What we have are four musicians so in tune with the music that there is not one moment that mars this outing, this is as near a perfect album as one can get. The quartet playing becomes almost lush and romantic, do not expect pretty, but absolutely beautiful with Bates providing some exquisite moments on piano. Bates rises to the company, I never expected him to be an equal with Jack DeJohnette and Dave Holland but his contribution makes this album. I haven't said much about this music just that this is my album of the year, ECM or otherwise, jazz, world, classical, it doesn't matter, it is that good! Read full review
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