Nazem al-Ghazali

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I finally bought something by this old Iraqi singer, "Best Of" Vol. 1. I was almost afraid to put this back on just now, for fear the magic wouldn't be there. It's definitely there. The melody that starts off the first song is so catchy and great. The instrumentalists are kind of swimming around each other. The ney is practically constantly present, something I don't think I've heard much in, say, Oum Kalthoum's recordings in a similar style. Al-Ghazali starts off with a mawawel, a metrically free-form vocal improvisation. The crowd goes crazy.

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Sunday, 30 May 2004 18:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Everything is directed toward pushing the listener into some sort of high.

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Sunday, 30 May 2004 18:29 (twenty-two years ago)

One thing I like about this is that the ensemble seems to be looser and more improvisatory (within admitdely tight limits) than Oum Kalthoum's was except in its loosest moments. (Why is it that in this case loose and tight are not opposites but feel like different poles of the same phenomenon? It's so tight because it's so loose.)

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Sunday, 30 May 2004 18:32 (twenty-two years ago)

(I just realized where I have heard this song before: the Iraqi singer Farida.)

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Sunday, 30 May 2004 18:33 (twenty-two years ago)

What's really amazing about this is that it reminds me of the energy of my favorite George Wassouf bootleg, but Al-Ghazali is a virtuoso vocalist, which Wassouf definitely is not. The distortion actually works with the music, for me.

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Sunday, 30 May 2004 18:39 (twenty-two years ago)

He definitely gets a place in the pantheon.

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Sunday, 30 May 2004 18:41 (twenty-two years ago)

what is the label and where did you get it and can you recommend places in either NYC or Philly (I'm going there tonight) to buy it?

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 30 May 2004 18:46 (twenty-two years ago)

That's what I thought. It's the same song Farida sings in the one recording by her that really amazes me. I wonder if some of her inspiration is coming from knowing what AlGhazali had done with it. I think the song is "The Mare." Not sure what that is in Arabic.

x-post:

hstencil, the label is uhm Buzaidphone. I ordered it online. I don't think it would be available on CD anywhere in town, though I'm not positive. Jerusalem Foods on Girard Ave. might have a copy on cassette. I haven't been there in ages, so I am not sure it's even still there or what it has these days, or whether it will be open on Sunday.

In New York it wouldn't surprise me if you'd find it in a Tower or HMV (if either of those are still open in NYC). Also, you could go to Brooklyn, to Rashid Bros. but I've never been to that store and I've heard contradictory things about how dangerous the neighborhood is (esp. for those unfamiliar with it).

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Sunday, 30 May 2004 18:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Sorry I can't burn a copy. Maybe that will come. I think the theme of this new apartment is going to be Communication and, something else, I forget what it was.

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Sunday, 30 May 2004 18:53 (twenty-two years ago)

(I like to give my apartment themes, ever since "The Apartment of Decision" I lived in two apartments back.)

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Sunday, 30 May 2004 18:53 (twenty-two years ago)

where is Rashid Bros. in Brooklyn?

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 30 May 2004 18:53 (twenty-two years ago)

okay, I found it. Boerum Hill ain't (that) dangerous!

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 30 May 2004 18:56 (twenty-two years ago)

This is what's on their web-site:

Ray is always searching for new labels or new recordings, that meet his criteria. We ask anyone who visits our web site to come and see our store in Brooklyn located in Downtown Brooklyn (Cobble Hill section) at 155 Court Street (between Pacific and Dean Street). We have a much larger selection but with the same prices of course. Our store hours are Monday thru Saturday from 10AM to 7:00 P.M. AHLAN WA SAHALAN!

Rashid Music Sales Company
155 Court Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Sunday, 30 May 2004 18:59 (twenty-two years ago)

(Haha, I think I just read that phrase in one of the article about the Iraqi resistance in the latest Harper's. I think it means "Welcome!" but there it was being said ironically of U.S. tanks, if I'm not mistaken.)

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Sunday, 30 May 2004 19:01 (twenty-two years ago)

The number is: 800-843-9401

They do list this CD on their web-site. (I actually got it from a different distributor nowhere near Philadelphia or New York.)

But they are not open on Sunday.

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Sunday, 30 May 2004 19:03 (twenty-two years ago)

(I have to step out for a bit.)

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Sunday, 30 May 2004 19:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Incidentally, www.maqam.com usually has incredibly fast turn-around time. And their prices are good. I just ordered these CDs I got today on Friday or Saturday or something. I can't believe they are here that quickly.

(Go for Vol. 1. I don't think Vol. 2 is quite as good.)

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 02:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I wanna try going by this place soon, so thanks for the thread and the info!

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 02:31 (twenty-two years ago)

If you feel inspired, you might also want to pick up Oum Kalthoum's Roubaiyat el-Khayam, which I still feel is the best genneral-purpose entree into her work.

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 02:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I really need some recommendations on where to start with latin music too, if you're feeling so inspired!

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 02:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Read the old salsa threads dill-weed. (I sent you an e-mail.)

― Rockist Scientist, Wednesday, 2 June 2004 20:21 (twenty-two years ago)

www.maqam.com is making me wish i had a LOT more money

― Feltscreenandwires (Felcher), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 20:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I just spent a lot of money there without having a lot of money, not that I recommend it. The prices are actually pretty good.

Are you new to the board, incidentally, or just a regular under a different name? (And are you going to tell me?)

― Rockist Scientist, Wednesday, 2 June 2004 20:40 (twenty-two years ago)

i impulsively just changed my name from felonious drunk. i was also once felcher. im probably gonna go back to felonious though.

― Feltscreenandwires (Felcher), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 20:43 (twenty-two years ago)

there. that's better.

― Felonious Drunk (Felcher), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 20:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh. So you are a closet Arabic music fan or just curious? (Or maybe the web-site just makes you wish you had more money, but not to buy CDs.)

― Rockist Scientist, Wednesday, 2 June 2004 20:49 (twenty-two years ago)

im really just getting into arabic music. all i've got so far is the sublime frequency series really. i've been trying to use ILM as a guide to dive into more of it, but im broke right now and nothing suggested on most of the arabic music threads can be found on slsk. the samples of stuff they have on maqam.com makes me starve for more. i also just got a balkan gypsy mix tape at a garage sale that i have yet to listen to.

― Felonious Drunk (Felcher), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 20:52 (twenty-two years ago)

A lot of classic Arabic music recordings run pretty long. It took me forever to download Oum Kalthoum's Ana Fe Intazarak from slsk, and when it finished, it turned out to only be half the recording, which meant that the part I really love hadn't even begun yet. (I already have it on CD.)

If you live somewhere that has Arabic grocery stores or that sort of thing, it might be worth it to buy some cheap cassettes just to get familiar with the music.

(As I've said elsewhere, I don't have any way of making copies of anything right now. Depending on how bad my next VISA bill is, I might buy a burner.)

― Rockist Scientist, Friday, 4 June 2004 12:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm going to have to buy some of this sublime frequency series stuff just so I know what people are listening to. I might be able to identify some of the material (if it isn't identified on the CDs), esp. for the Syrian one.

― Rockist Scientist, Friday, 4 June 2004 17:33 (twenty-two years ago)

two weeks pass...

I don't like the other two Nazem al-Ghazali CDs I bought nearly as much as "Vol. 1." I think they mostly contain later recordings. I can't even say I love his voice, but everything works together on Vol. 1 to creat a powerful experience.

― Rockist Scientist, Friday, 18 June 2004 19:35 (twenty-two years ago)

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