Rabih Abou-Khalil - Blue Camel [1992]

Blue Camel is a real breakthrough album. The construction of Arab music forms and American jazz, combined with a great blend of Mid-Eastern and Western instrumentation, is simply ingenius in and of itself, aside from the brilliant, virtuoso performances displayed on this album. This is the perfect, early portrayal of a pioneer, multi-ethnic style of music, and probably the best of the early albums of Rabih Abou-Khalil.

The diversity of styles is amazing, ranging from the moody, deep soundscapes of "Sahara" and "Beirut" to the jazzier, less involved songs like "Rabou-Abou-Kabou." The instrumentation, particularly the flugelhorn and trumpet, add a great texture to the sound. In both mood and scope, it can almost be characterized as a new Kind of Blue.

                                                      Enjoy!