WANEES ZAROUR

SILWAN

Levantine Music

Wanees Zarour, Buzuq/oud/percussion; Samuel Mosching, guitar; Vinny Kabat, bass; Andrew Lawrence, piano/keys/synthesizers; Nick Kabat, drums; Tareq Rantisi, percussion; Catie Hickey, trombone; Bryan Pardo, alto saxophone/clarinet.

Wanees Zarour has composed, arranged and produced all the songs on this album.  He is an award-winning Palestinian American musician.  Zarour leads the East Loop ensemble, co-directs the Chicago Immigrant Orchestra, and is the long-time director of the acclaimed 80-piece Middle East Music Ensemble at the University of Chicago.

The East Loop ensemble opens with the title tune, “Silwan.”  This entire album is a deep dive into his musical identity, inclusive of his Palestinian heritage, his Middle Eastern influences, and woven into the musical shawl is a sprinkle of Chicago’s traditional and rich jazz/blues roots.  Using the buzuq and Arabian percussion instruments, Wanees Zarour shapes this traditional music into a more world music sound, using jazz as a framework and improvisation as a splash of color.

“Lifta” is another Zarour original composition.  It marches into my listening room with the oud leading the way like a band conductor. Lifta is a 2000-year-old historic village located just on the outskirts of Jerusalem.  It is famous for its vibrant social life and cultural traditions. The original Arab inhabitants were expelled by Zionist paramilitary in 1948. Palestinians still hold the history and traditions of Lifta dear, reflecting the people’s resilience and treasuring their historic culture.  Andrew Lawrence makes powerful statements on the synthesizer.

The lovely season of Autumn is celebrated next, in a melancholy way.  Most of these songs borrow much from the cultural heritage of Zarour’s traditional music.  A good example of the cultural roots of Palestinians is musically presented during his arrangements of “Festival.” The horns of Catie Hickey and Bryan Pardo introduce the melody. Samuel Mosching’s guitar is bright and participant in this happy festival feeling. For the first time, the drums and percussion instruments are given the stage.  They shine!

This is a fresh, Middle Eastern influenced jazz album that transports us to an israeli culture, wrapped in the sands of time and hugged by the arms of jazz.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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