Libertad (Freedom)

Orquesta Àrab de Barcelona, “Libertad” (Freedom) Reviewed by Abu Ramses
World Village Harmonia Mundi (2011) ALL TRACKS FCC CLEAN

Third album of the Arab Orchestra of Barcelona, established in 2005. Warm, upbeat, big band sound building on Gnawa & Isawa sufi melodies (track 10 composed in the style). Core group includes 4 Moroccans: Mohamed Soulimane (musical director & violinist), Mohamed Bout (lead vocals), Achraf Zeroual (Oriental keyboard), Aziz Khodari (percussion) & 3 Europeans: Sergio Ramos (drums & cajon), Joan Rectoret (bass) & Jordi Gaig (piano). Guest artists: Cuban pianist Omar Sosa & Daniel Figueras (flamenco & electric guitar), David Pastor (trumpet) & more.

Try 1, 4, 7, 8, 13
Tracks
1. Maghrebía (Moroccan) – Upbeat Gnawa tune. Brass & guembri. Live - 2:39
2. Luz (Light) – Very fast, Vicent Macian on soprano sax, sounds like an oboe - 3:16
3. Sueños de Oriente (Eastern Dreams) – kanun & piano solos, guitar riffs, bossa nova beat, brassy, piano solos - 2:58
4. Jerusalén (Jerusalem) – Most “Middle Eastern” sound on the CD - 4:49
5. Tangos de la Amargura (Tangos of Bitterness) – Paula Diminguez vocal, flamenco style, palmas - 3:58
6. El Viajero (Traveler) - Slow Isawa sufi tune, solo male vocal, some English - 2:47
7. La Celebración (Celebration) – Another Isawa song, surprising brass at end - 3:34
8. El Camino (The Way) – Call & response Isawa song about Prophet Muhammad in Moroccan Arabic jazzed up with palmas, brass, kanun & more - 4:05
9. Cerca de Ti (Near You) – Mid-tempo, piano & strings - 5:35
10. Alla (Allah/God) – Composed by Soulimane & Bouti, with sufi-style chanting God’s name; big band sound - 6:25
11. Hafla (Party) – Concludes the Gnawa ritual, Latin-like accelerating rhythm -2:34
12. Libertad (Freedom) – Slow, piano backup. Lyrics denounce those who do wrong in the name of Islam - 5:13
13. Ayoub (Job) – Dramatic instrumental, kanun solos dedicated to a friend - 5:00