Mike's Oud Forums

oriental jazz

Onglon - 1-18-2018 at 05:12 PM

Hi dear forum dwellers,

i had question that has been on my mind for a while, and i think i reached the level where i can now understand if someone explains it to me. what is the trick with oriental jazz (such as the one we can hear in ziad rahbani songs)? is he adding chords to the traditional maqams? thank you for your light



Badra - 1-18-2018 at 10:10 PM

Can you please provide a more specific example within Rahbani's songs?

Onglon - 1-22-2018 at 04:29 PM

in this piece for example - Abu Ali : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxIZDpShHC0

Onglon - 1-22-2018 at 04:30 PM

to be specific, my question is how do you make jazz from an oriental maqam (say bayati)?

Onglon - 1-22-2018 at 04:34 PM

this song is "jazzy" too! 3a hadir el bosta, sang by fayrouz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wbLBZmL43Q

Badra - 1-22-2018 at 09:54 PM

Abu Ali sounds part Shaft, part Love Boat, part Arabic. :)) Just a sign of the era. I hear a little maqam here and there maybe, but for the most part, it sounds to me like mostly jazz or western scales. Or am I just fooled by the secret sauce? On top of that the instruments and beats are mostly Western. I think this is basically disco with a sprinkle of Oriental.

Marcus - 1-22-2018 at 10:03 PM

Hi folks:wavey:

do you guys know Yacoub Abu Gosh/ Zaman al Zaatar?

I love his music and his oudplayer, Tarek al Jundi!

Enjoy!!

Badra - 1-22-2018 at 10:08 PM

The Fairouz example is more oriental than the other example. I don't know if it's jazzy, but it has western beats + bass line. Also the western instruments, brass and of course chords. But chords are almost always added to maqams in modern arab music. I think the big difference is the beat and bass line more than chords.

John Erlich - 1-23-2018 at 12:54 PM

Though traditional in instrumentation, this Munir Bashir recording has a strong jazz sensibility - https://www.discogs.com/%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%... Unlike most Arabic/ME jazz, I actually really like it.

gkhouri - 1-23-2018 at 08:40 PM

Quote: Originally posted by John Erlich  
Though traditional in instrumentation, this Munir Bashir recording has a strong jazz sensibility - https://www.discogs.com/%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%... Unlike most Arabic/ME jazz, I actually really like it.


John, I'm not sure what it is about this Munir Bashir recording, but I've listened to it at least 100 times! Perhaps it's because I am a jazz musician. Some of it certainly has a swinging feeling. Glad to know someone else likes it!

John Erlich - 1-24-2018 at 02:18 PM

Quote: Originally posted by gkhouri  
Quote: Originally posted by John Erlich  
Though traditional in instrumentation, this Munir Bashir recording has a strong jazz sensibility - https://www.discogs.com/%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%... Unlike most Arabic/ME jazz, I actually really like it.


John, I'm not sure what it is about this Munir Bashir recording, but I've listened to it at least 100 times! Perhaps it's because I am a jazz musician. Some of it certainly has a swinging feeling. Glad to know someone else likes it!


Yes, agreed. It's not really "fusion" music, but has a mellow "jazzy" sensibility. Listening to it right now...to calm my stress...

Onglon - 1-25-2018 at 01:35 PM

Badra, never heard of love boat before, but Love boat is what it is! Abu Ali feels a little less fresh now that one of its main references was revealed.

John, thanks for the munir bashir recording, lovely.

so what is oriental jazz? and what type of chords are added, can 7th chord be added to the rast / bayati maqams for example?

best