Ibrahim Maalouf - Wind

Paris-based Lebanese trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf learned a Middle Eastern quarter-tone technique from his brass-playing father, started out winning classical competitions, and then taught himself jazz. This New York quintet session, including US star sidemen Mark Turner (sax) and Clarence Penn (drums), seems certain to broaden his audience.

Maalouf has dedicated this album to Miles Davis, and it often uncannily echoes Sketches of Spain, but transformed in pitch by an Arabic influence. It's a session of poise, variety and sublime skill, moving from folk themes with Celtic lilts to hook-based funky pieces and evocative ballads. Some passages build like Brad Mehldau pieces, hinting at melodies and grooves. Sensuality has a stealthily playful theme and a steady Cuban dance pulse, but keeps throwing stylistic surprises. A startling new voice in contemporary jazz has arrived.
(Guardian)

Asked by the French national film library to choose and then write the music for a film from among the silent movies in the Albatros catalogue, Ibrahim Maalouf chose, from the selection proposed, René Clair's film " The Prey of the Wind". The project allowed Maalouf to fulfil two wishes - first to compose for a film, and second to compose a piece that could be very much inspired by Miles Davis' music in Louis Malle's "Lift to the Scaffold" but with the quarter-tone trumpet.

As Ibrahim himself tells it: "I wanted to reproduce that mysteriously melancholic atmosphere, dripping with suspense, contributing a discreet yet powerful arabic hue, blended into the typical jazz quintet played for many years by Miles' mythical quintet.
The album was recorded in New York City in half a day. Each piece was recorded in a single sitting. There are no post production tricks. The mixing was carried out the following day in the same studio. I also chose to work with jazz musicians able to flirt with my arabic sounds, without being destabilized.

The New York team is a trio composed of Larry Grenadier (bass), Clarence Penn (drums) and Mark Turner (saxophone). These musicians are greatly respected both in traditional and avant-garde jazz circles for their openness of mind, their creativity and their musicality. I also wanted to involve the pianist Frank Woeste, for the arrangements, so as to be as « accurate » as possible in my musical approach. Frank is also an excellent arranger and jazz composer."
(harmoniamundi)

Track List :

01. Doubts
02. Suspicions
03. Waiting
04. Questions & Answers
05. Waiting 2
06. Excitement
07. Certainly
08. Sensuality
09. Issues
10. Surprises
11. Doubts 2
12. Mistery