Arabic poetry, superb singer

Finally back, about 10 years after her previous visit to AB with the then already delectable 'Mesk Elil' CD. Now there is the brand new 'El Mutakallimûm' album, apparently that refers to 'masters of the world' (out here via LC Music.) We're expecting Souad Massi: vocals, guitar, plus Guy N'Sangué: bass – Mokthar Samba: drums – Patrick Marie Magdelaine: guitar – Rabah Khalfa: percussion.

Souad Massi is a superb singer who hails from Algeria, but has now been forced to make Paris her homebase. You can hear more than just simply raï music. Cross-pollination then: a unique mix of all the beautiful things that have inspired her: chanson, jazz, Andalusian influences... and all those North African sounds, of course.

She has already been compared to Tracey Chapman, but let that mainly refer to her honest artistic approach. So those 'masters of the world' are then rather great artists, spirits, poets from hundreds of years of Arabian culture that Souad wants to honour here as counterweight to the more extreme Arabic image that currently predominates.

Bold & enticing!

This concert takes place as a part of VW SPRING SESSIONS.