Anouar Brahem: "After The Last Sky" Review ... .

Anouar Brahem, Tunisian composer and oud master, is releasing his 12th album, After The Last Sky, today (28 March), whose title evokes a verse by the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. Eight years after his last album Blue Maqams, this opus is deeply marked by the tragedy of Gaza. Orient XXI publishes here the translation of its presentation text, signed by the author and music critic Adam Shatz. In preparing the music for this album, the traged…

Anouar Brahem: "After The Last Sky" Review ... .

Usually, when oud player Anouar Brahem works with a small ensemble, he shares the spotlight with another soloist who mirrors his slow and careful style, regardless of their instrument, while other musician provide a textural rhythmic foundation. It’s what soprano saxophonist / bass clarinetist John Surman did with double-bassist Dave Holland on 1998’s Thimar; what clarinetist Barbaros Erköse did with bendir / darbouka player Lassad Hosni on 2000…