Orquestra Arab De Barcelona / Libertad (Freedom)
Album: Libertad (Freedom)   Collection:World
Artist:Orquestra Arab De Barcelona   Added:Mar 2013
Label:Harmonia Mundi France  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2013-03-31 Pull Date: 2013-06-03 Charts: Reggae/World
Week Ending: Jun 2 May 19 May 12 May 5 Apr 28 Apr 21 Apr 14
Airplays: 2 1 1 1 1 2 3

Recent Airplay
1. Mar 14, 2019: Cafe Nakhil
El Camino (The Way)
4. May 30, 2013: Arabology
Maghrebía (Moroccan)
2. Dec 13, 2018: Hanging in the bone yard
Sueños De Oriente (Eastern Dreams)
5. May 30, 2013: Mediterraneans
Maghrebía (Moroccan)
3. Apr 09, 2016: Music Casserole
El Camino (The Way)
6. May 16, 2013: Mediterraneans
El Camino (The Way)

Album Review
Abu Ramses
Reviewed 2013-03-23
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

Track Listing
1. Maghrebía (Moroccan)   7. La Celebración (The Celebration)
2. Luz (Light)   8. El Camino (The Way)
3. Sueños De Oriente (Eastern Dreams)   9. Cerca De Ti (Near You)
4. Jerusalén (Jerusalem)   10. Alla (Allah/God)
5. Tangos De La Amargura (Tangos Of Bitterness)   11. Hafla (Party)
6. El Viajero (The Traveler)   12. Libertad (Freedom)
  13. Ayoub (Job)