Joubran Trio/Le Trio Joubran, AsFar (Journeys) (Harmonia Mundi/World Village, 2011)
Reviewed by Abu Ramses – ALL TRACKS FCC CLEAN

The Joubran Trio is an oud trio consisting of brothers Samir, Wissam, & Adnan Joubran – Palestinian citizens of Israel from Nazareth. They now reside in Paris. AsFar (Travels) is their 5th album. The 1st, Randana, was a duet with Samir, the oldest, & Wissam, the youngest; Samir previously did 2 solo albums. The oud was originally used to accompany vocalists & since the late 19th century in instrumental solos. The trio is a new form; these are complex compositions of great variety, originality & technical virtuosity. To keep the initial flow fresh, the brothers did not rehearse the compositions they previously worked out before going into the studio. The mostly dark & brooding pieces are backed by Youssef Hbeisch’s minimalist percussion (to allow space for the ouds) & Tunisian-born Dhafer Youssef’s scat vocals. Hbeisch & Youssef also reside in Paris. Lucidculture.wordpress.com picked this as one of the best albums of 2011.

Tracks

Try 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 if you want a long one

1. Nawwâr (Enlightener) – flamenco influences - 4:40
2. Zawâj El Yamâm (Marriage of the Doves) - features Dhafer Youssef’s flamenco-style wails & hypnotic melody - 5:52
3. Dawwâr El Shams (Circle of the sun) – a brooding & atmospheric walz -4:48
4. Douja – a dirge with Dhafer Youssef’s moaning vocals - 6:25
5. Sama’i Cordoba – begins with the classical stately genre (sama’i); then rapid tremolo-picking & an improvisation (taqsim) – 4:36
6. Asfar (Journeys) – Majestic, dark, anguished melody - 15:02
7. Masâna (Our evening) – opens with a long, bright solo taqsim (improvisation) before reverting to the earlier dirge theme - 8:44