Al qantara

"Most of the pieces work in the jazz form, but the "Afro Oriental" lens through which it is heard is what makes the album special. The music of both the Arabic and Gnawa populations of Morocco influence the melodies here, with elements of blues and even music from the Far East seeping in. The rhythms used are largely Indian-inspired and their combination with the Moroccan jazz melodies works so well, the traditions don't sound as if they grew thousands of miles apart. The trio's jazz elements echo the "modern" era of experimentation, drawing especially from the Afrocentric periods of Don Cherry (whose love letter to the Gnawa, Guinea, is covered here) and Randy Weston, who also provides liner notes. It is interesting to hear the Afro-Arabic jazz created by those closer to the original tradition ... A successful album, and a promising new project".