"It seems to be a good time for Arabic-flavoured jazz. Hijaz is a quartet based in Belgium with members also hailing from Tunisia, Portugal and the UK ... The tracks are arranged between the standard jazz structure of head and solos and something closer to through-composition - often, the solos will dissolve into a more open-ended exploration of the themes. About half the tracks also feature a taqsim-like unmetered intro, often rendered in a jazz style, which is a nice touch ... A great album with an interesting and sometimes exciting look at the connections between the scales, rhythms and timbres of the Arabic and jazz forms. One of the best and most successful fusions of its kind".
