Toufic Farroukh, “Cinema Beirut” (ENJA Records, 2012)
Reviewed by Abu Ramses – ALL TRACKS FCC CLEAN

Lebanese-born, Paris-based Toufic Farroukh (composer, arranger, producer, soprano & tenor sax) is a pioneer of Lebanese Oriental jazz: Arab-accented, with western instruments. A compilation, re-mix, & re-mastering of music from recent Lebanese film soundtracks. Most tracks feature a brass trio & sax with unusually lively tuba. Farroukh says, “My main concern is that the compositions have a ‘soul’. My artistic aim is to create intellectual and physical emotions but I do not dictate to the audience what they should feel. Everybody should keep his very own sensibility…” French session ensemble: Leandro Aconcha, piano & co-arranger; Nicolas Giraud, trumpet; Sylvain Gontard, trumpet (only on 2 & 5); Didier Havet, tuba, sousaphone; Daniel Zimmermann, trombone; Luc Isenmann, drums.

Tracks Try 2, 3, 6, 8

1. No Brain No Pain – mid-tempo piano & brass, trumpet solo - 5:06
2. A Wonderful Afternoon with Zéna-Laure - Farroukh & brass trio with Gontard, Havet & Zimmermann, trumpet & piano solos - 4:56
3. Fema ka – piano & trombone; piano & sax duets, brass ensemble - 4:44
4. Summer Run – tuba leads, ensemble riff up and down the scale & trombone, soprano sax, trumpet solos - 4:33
5. Belle et Zébuth – mid tempo brass trio - 4:23
6. Blue Tango – brass & piano, some honky tonk - 3:50
7. The Last Scene – andante piano leads; syncopated - 4:05
8. Side Story – Opens with big bandish sound, mellows down; trumpet solo - 5:37
9. Storyboard - a solo piano piece, like a Lebanese piano sonata - 4:02
10. L'inaccessible à Bras Ouverts 4:59
11. The Red Boy - Part I –11, 12, 13 are a suite driven by the drums - 1:18
12. What Are You Doing In The Dark? – Havet on tuba - 1:31
13. The Red Boy - Part II - 6:04