Joubran Trio / Asfar
Album: Asfar   Collection:World
Artist:Joubran Trio   Added:Mar 2012
Label:Harmonia Mundi France  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2012-03-17 Pull Date: 2012-05-19 Charts: Reggae/World
Week Ending: May 20 May 13 May 6 Apr 29 Apr 22 Apr 15 Apr 8 Apr 1
Airplays: 2 2 2 1 3 2 1 1

Recent Airplay
1. Jun 13, 2013: Arabology
Dawwâr El Shams (Circle Of The Sun)
4. May 24, 2012: Arabology
Dawwâr El Shams (Circle Of The Sun)
2. May 02, 2013: Mediterraneans
Nawwâr (Enlightener)
5. May 17, 2012: Arabology
Dawwâr El Shams (Circle Of The Sun)
3. Jun 07, 2012: Arabology
Dawwâr El Shams (Circle Of The Sun)
6. May 15, 2012: Mediterraneans
Nawwâr (Enlightener)

Album Review
Abu Ramses
Reviewed 2012-03-10
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

Track Listing
1. Nawwâr (Enlightener)   4. Douja
2. Zawâj El Yamâm (Marriage Of The Doves)   5. Sama?I Cordoba
3. Dawwâr El Shams (Circle Of The Sun)   6. Asfar (Journeys)
  7. Masâna (Our Evening)