At the moment this is music that I am using quite a bit and there are still some more to come. Later on I will be adding more general reviews of music I have in my collection.
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Al Andelus by the Andelus Ensemble is one of my current favourites. This is a set of
recordings by a US restaurant band and the sounds bring back many happy memories from my early days as a dancer when dancing to live music was the norm. I particularly liked the arrangements of Laylet Hob and Ana Fi Intizarak. Geographically the tracks come from a variety of countries including Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. It has lots of useful short taxims and linking tracks that would make it very easy to make a pleasing routine for a restaurant set or any performance where a full routine is needed. A good one to add to your
collection if like me you are a fan of American Cabaret Style dancing.
CD courtesy of Metronome Music where you can buy your own copy - www.classicalmusicstore.co.uk or visit my music recommendations page to buy this from Amazon UK |
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Belly Dance Sensation - Salatin El Tarab Orchestra. (HMC 1239).
This CD is recommended for anyone looking to create an interesting set based on music from across the Middle East. It’s a collection of well-known, popular songs mainly in shorter lengths enabling the dancer to put together an interesting and varied routine. This would also work well for restaurant performances.
CD courtesy of Metronome Music where you can buy your own copy - www.classicalmusicstore.co.uk or visit my music recommendations page to buy this from Amazon UK |
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If you are looking for something with a classical feel to it then you will enjoy Bellydance Treasures by Bassil Moubayyed. From Lebanon, Bassil Moubayyed is a master violinist and that is certainly evident from the quality of these recordings. There is a selection of tracks from several different countries; this time it’s Lebanon, Egypt and Iraq. A nice collection of songs well-arranged and again there are lots of shorter taxims that act as nice links between the long ones. Another one that has tracks short enough for haflah use and with enough choice to put together a nice performance routine.
CD courtesy of Metronome Music where you can buy your own copy - www.classicalmusicstore.co.uk or visit my music recommendations page to buy this from Amazon UK |
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Electric Oasis - Exotic Arabian Grooves is something altogether different in style. These are primarily remixes of some well-known classics with a few interesting original compositions thrown in for good measure! I particularly liked the opening track ‘Sandstorm’ by Naked Rhythm - very upbeat without being too over-powering. This is the song that Urban Gypsy perform to on the aforementioned Showtime DVD. Another track that I really enjoyed is ‘Move Your Belly’ by Louie a lovely modern baladi piece, but perhaps my favourite of all is a nifty remix of Zeina with some tabla overlays that sound like cuts from ‘Sahra Saeeda’. It makes for a fun mix, that has already gone down quite well at a couple of recent party gigs. This album is not for the purists but if you are looking for something that’s a little quirky and usual then I think you’ll enjoy it.
CD courtesy of Metronome Music where you can buy your own copy - www.classicalmusicstore.co.uk or visit my music recommendations page to buy this from Amazon UK |
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Essential Bellydance from Neena & Veena, known in the US at the Belly Twins. What I like about this CD is that it is a compilation across a variety of styles. There are some excellent drum solos and a nice selection of both classic and modern interpretations of popular songs. The arrangements all come from high quality artists and are all of a length that makes them usable for things like haflahs.
CD courtesy of Metronome Music where you can buy your own copy - www.classicalmusicstore.co.uk or visit my music recommendations page to buy this from Amazon UK |
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Khaleeji Mix - The Sounds of the Gulf (EMI Music Arabia).
Good Khaleeji CDs are hard to come by, so as someone who teaches and performs it quite a bit these days I’m always on the look out for music. This is a nice collection of mainly vocal tracks in several different Gulf styles. Nearly all of it is danceable and much of it is so nice it is almost impossible to listen to it and not tap your foot or want to get up and dance!
You can buy this from Rashid Music in the Us. Click here to go to their website. |
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Layali Al Sharq - Al-Ahram Orchestra of Cairo (HMC 1358)
The Al-Ahram Orchestra of Cairo is renowned for their rich sound, and authentic performance of popular dande music. In Layali Al Sharq (Middle Eastern Nights), they present new compositions while preserving the traditional and classical Egyptian feeling. I love the rich sounds of the orchestration on this CD with its big production numbers and lovely arrangements of baladi classics. It has two great complete routines that I can see myself dancing to in the future. This again is a new acquisition so whilst I’ve listened to it a few times I haven’t yet performed to any of it but I know that I will be at some point in the future!
CD courtesy of Metronome Music where you can buy your own copy - www.classicalmusicstore.co.uk or visit my music recommendations page to buy this from Amazon UK |
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On Fire! (HMC 1301)
Another compilation CD from a previously reviewed DVD of the same name. This one is a must for anyone who enjoys dancing Egyptian Oriental style. Here we have lovely arrangements of old favourites like Sallam Alay, Daret Al Ayam, Gana Al Hawa, Sawwah and that perennial favourite of lots of dancers (include me!) Tahtil Shibbak, as sung beautifully by Fatme Serhan. I love this CD and use it not just in performance but also for workshops as the arrangements are all so good. Read the DVD review here
CD courtesy of Metronome Music where you can buy your own copy - www.classicalmusicstore.co.uk or visit my music recommendations page to buy this from Amazon UK |
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Showtime! (HMC 1357)
This is the soundtrack from the DVD of the same name that I reviewed here. It’s a compilation and as such some of you will no doubt find duplications on other CDs in you collection. However, what you get for your money is a lot of useful music all in one place. The tracks include classical Egyptian songs, pop fusion and remixes, a song for melaya leff, some Lebanese and another zeffa song. I would certainly recommend it for class use and as suggestion to students looking to gain a wider library of music but can’t afford to buy lots of CDs.
CD courtesy of Metronome Music where you can buy your own copy - www.classicalmusicstore.co.uk or visit my music recommendations page to buy this from Amazon UK |
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The Soul of Cairo by Ahmad Gibaly & Orchestra (HMC 1365)
This is one of the titles I picked up at Rashid’s Music in New York and the moment I played it I fell in love with it! It is chock full of a great collection of all the songs you could need to compile several different Egyptian Oriental sets - a complete routine on its own, baladi tracks, two good drum solos, saidi, an Om Kalsoum, pop song and even a zaffa (wedding procession) song! I know I will use individual songs and combinations of them for a long time to come. Oh and the artwork features some stunning photos of dance star Aziza that are just to die for! :D
Visit my music recommendations page to buy this from Amazon UK |
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Ya Habibi, Modern Egyptian Belly Dance - Al Ahram Orchestra
(HMC 1332)
This is a rather eclectic mix of tracks ranging from a Muwashahat and Modern Egyptian & Melaya Leff right through to much more fusion sounds including and interesting track called Dragon Raks which is listed as ‘Japanese-Arabian Fusion.’ It has a couple of club remixes and a fun drum solo that I can’t wait to try out in performance. Not one for the purist but if you want a selection of more unusual things to try then maybe this will be of interest.
Visit my music recommendations page to buy this from Amazon UK |
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