Big Mango, The

EXPERIMENTAL WORLD JAZZ, disparate influences blended into an epic jazz fusion stew. Written as “a love letter to Cairo” by leader Osama Shalabi after living a block away from Tahrir Square during the 2011 Arab Spring, the large ensemble finds intersections between free jazz, Middle Eastern / North African modes, and Brazilian tropicalia in a jazz-rock context. Female vocals from Montreal indie bands make most songs ideal for indie rock DJs as well. Often subtle and restrained, other times raucous and bombastic, the spirited top-notch musicianship makes for a wild ride throughout; there’s something here for everyone.
RIYL Zorn, Nels Cline Singers, Trilok Gurtu, Sao Paulo Underground, Ramzi’s Arabology show

1. (3:25) lots of random atonality, vocal ululations, electronics
2. **(5:43) Instrumental. Soft restrained solo keyboard for the first half, low synth drone accompanies skronky sax solo sounding like Pharaoh Sanders meets Colin Stetson
3. (7:30) Jangly jazz-rock romp with angelic vocals, looping guitar ostinatos and huge horn section
4. (2:16) Calm piano solo for the first half, then horns and vocals bring in a soft reprise of the theme from 3
5. (5:47) Piano and electronics-heavy jazz-rock, instrumental
6. (4:22) Epic and moody piece, starts mellow and builds into an impassioned dark electric ballad
7. ***(5:47) Instrumental, my favorite track. A noisy, fast jazz-rock take on percussive Gnawa style music with warped horn solos, incredible; ends with a long bowed bass solo
8. *(6:41) A rolling groove with dense string harmonies, call it orchestral Sephardic baroque-rock; shifts between Eastern polyrhythms and jazzy swung patterns.
9. (6:48) Straight 90s indie rock guitar riffs with some exotic percussion and blurred Joni Mitchell-esque vocals, builds in intensity until reaching soaring math-rock crescendos, ends with a lilting flute-driven folksy ditty