Released on the occasion of Anouar Brahems 60th birthday, Blue Maqams
offers many reasons to celebrate. Recorded in New Yorks Avatar Studios
in May 2017 and produced by Manfred Eicher, it brings the Tunisian oud
master together with three brilliant improvisers: the Maqams of the
title refers to the Arabic modal music system, rendered kind of blue by
the jazz players. For Anouar Brahem and Dave Holland the album marks a
reunion: they first collaborated 20 years ago on the very
widely-acclaimed Thimar album. Brahem meets Jack DeJohnette for the
first time here, but Holland and DeJohnette have been frequent musical
partners over the last half-century beginning with ground-breaking work
with Miles Davis their collaborations are legendary. British pianist
Django Bates also rises superbly to the challenge of Brahems
compositions. And Anouar in turn is inspired to some of his most
outgoing playing.
