{"id":3785,"date":"2012-02-10T14:30:57","date_gmt":"2012-02-10T21:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/?p=3785"},"modified":"2012-02-20T21:01:55","modified_gmt":"2012-02-21T04:01:55","slug":"sharifa-asmar-cd-reviews-ramzy-rhythms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2012\/02\/10\/sharifa-asmar-cd-reviews-ramzy-rhythms\/","title":{"rendered":"Technique, Rhythm and Passion, Sharing the Intangible"},"content":{"rendered":"

All by Hossam Ramzy:
\nRhythms of the Nile: Intro to Egyptian Dance Rhythms
\nBaladi Plus: Egyptian Dance Music
\nSabla Tolo III<\/h2>\n

\"Ramzy<\/p>\n

CD Reviews by Sharifa\u00a0 Asmar<\/a><\/strong>
\nposted February 10, 2012<\/span><\/h3>\n

Hossam Ramzy needs no introduction in the Oriental dance world, nor can he deny his passion for rhythm nor his reputation as one of the world\u2019s finest tabla players.\u00a0 His Oriental music CDs include classical, modern, and original compositions.\u00a0\u00a0 A dancer\u2019s drummer, a creative force and dedicated teacher, the Egyptian-born master drummer pioneered the development of rhythm CDs for instruction and practice.\u00a0 It is safe to say that would be unusual if an experienced dancer or a drummer didn\u2019t own at least one Hossam Ramzy CD.<\/p>\n

\"RhythmsRhythms of the Nile: Introduction to Egyptian Dance Rhythms- 2 CD set<\/p>\n

Rhythms of the Nile: Introduction to Egyptian Dance Rhythms is an educational instructional CD for both dancer and drummer.\u00a0 Ramzy developed this CD following a request from the Raks Sharki School<\/span> in London, for a CD of most-common Raks Sharki rhythms.\u00a0 I can only speculate that like me, the requesting instructor found the availability of extended rhythm tracks few and far between.\u00a0 This CD set covers 11 rhythms:\u00a0 Masmoudi, Maqsoum, Saaidi, Fallahi, Zaar, Malfuf, Karachi,\u00a0 ElZaffa, Three-Four Time, Samaii, and his own original contribution, Abu el Khamsa or \u201cFather of Five.\u201d\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Rhythms of the Nile is one of the most important CDs in my library.\u00a0 While I have lots of instructional rhythm CDs, this is one of my top three \u2013 all the others are just collecting dust. <\/p>\n

The importance of Oriental music to the Oriental dancer\u2019s craft \u2013 be the music made visible- makes the development of the dancer\u2019s ear paramount.\u00a0 Exposure to the rhythmic foundations of Oriental music affects overall musicality and interpretation.\u00a0 Inexperienced dancers are actively searching for rhythm with each step.\u00a0 Rhythms of the Nile is their first pair of shoes.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

CD 1 is noted as\u00a0 \u201ca workshop in Egyptian Dance\u201d and introduces\u00a011 Raks Sharki rhythms along with the various drums and percussion instruments (including the tabla, darbuka<\/a>, duf<\/a>, riqq<\/a>, mazhar and more) that make the rhythms of the Nile.\u00a0 Designed for the dancer, rather than the drummer, Hossam begins each with a description of rhythm, its musical signature, and some words about the \u201cway we feel it.\u201d\u00a0 His instruction is peppered with whats and whys rather than just how-tos.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Among my favorites is his description of the Zaar <\/a>rhythm as \u201cvery spooky\u201d and how offerings of game, sheep or young camel are common with this ritual for driving out evil spirits.\u00a0 Not your usual musical commentary \u2013 eh?<\/p>\n

\u00a0 ElZeffa is described as \u201cour way of sending newly wedded couples on their honeymoon.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 These little cultural descriptions connect the listener to the rhythms in an organic way- bringing the intangible emotional nuances to the surface.\u00a0 Hossam\u2019s voice is charming, clear, crisp, and easily understood with only a hint of an accent.<\/p>\n

Less experienced dancers should start with CD 2 as the tracks are very clear rhythm without variation, unlike CD1 where the rhythms are decorated with variations and may be more difficult to pick out.\u00a0 After a bit with CD 2, CD 1 will make more sense.<\/p>\n

CD 2 is \u201ca workshop of Egyptian percussion\u201d and is very basic rhythm instruction intended for baby drummers, however, the dancer will benefit greatly from it.\u00a0 CD 2 is where we find more detailed descriptions of the different drums and specific instructions for dums and taks on each.\u00a0 Also there are extended rhythm tracks for practice.\u00a0 Hossam\u2019s confident easy-going style continues: politely, but firmly, admonishing his listeners to not proceed without understanding the terms used,\u00a0 \u201c\u2026 as this is a major cause to the halting of any studying process,\u201d\u00a0 referring to the glossary included in the liner notes.<\/p>\n

Both CDs are recorded in an easy-to-follow format with pleasant and informative commentary.\u00a0 The information provided with the tracks is even clearer with the liner notes, a word-for-word transcript of the CDs, allowing the listener to read along with Hossam\u2019s words.\u00a0 The liner notes are really a 25-26 pg. booklet of the CD commentary in 4 languages, an illustrated musical notation of the included rhythms, and the glossary.\u00a0 This CD set is not meant to be the beginning and end all of instruction \u2013 it is an introduction.\u00a0 Hossam, in his teaching wisdom, provides the appropriate level of information without too much to confuse the listener.<\/p>\n

Rhythms of the Nile is a primer, reference, a teaching tool, a refresher course \u2013 in short , everything Ramzy intended it to be.<\/p>\n

Newer dancers, armed with a recognition of basic rhythms and their various drum incarnations, may expand their musical abilities quicker.\u00a0 Experienced dancers will find a new understanding of an old favorite and an excellent companion for finger cymbal workouts.\u00a0 Instructors of dance and drumming alike will find this a useful CD for organizing their own thoughts and movements for lessons and practice sessions.\u00a0\u00a0 It is a first stop on a journey to a working relationship with Egyptian (and Arabic) music.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Rating: 3 1\/2 zils
\n\"Zil<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Baladi<\/p>\n

Baladi Plus <\/p>\n

A second stop on our music journey, Baladi Plus is meant to be the follow-up to Rhythms of the Nile.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

This time the familiar rhythms come fully orchestrated for surround-sound music for dance, dance practice and dance instruction.\u00a0 And dance you will! It\u2019s impossible to sit and listen to this CD- it\u2019s just too juicy.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

The eight tracks are all between 6-9 minutes with the exception of the first \u2013 Night Foal<\/em> \u2013 a rebaba and mizmar taxim.\u00a0\u00a0 I can smell Egypt when I hear that piece.\u00a0 The two instruments are easily identified making it ideal to introduce the rebaba and mizmar instruments to my classes.\u00a0 The 2nd, 3rd and 4th tracks are primarily rhythm pieces- Saidi, Masmoudi-Maqsoum, and Zaar, respectively.\u00a0 Wonderfully rich and strong, these three pieces are a backbone of practice and performance.\u00a0 Arabian Knights<\/em>, a solid Saidi rhythm speaks of good times and is featured on the Prince of Persia<\/em> soundtrack.\u00a0 Mashalla<\/em>,\u00a0 the masmoudi, is motivation-in-motion while the deeply rhythmic zaar, Alla Hai<\/em>, is\u2026 well, spooky.\u00a0\u00a0 Baladi, Egypt\u2019s urbanized folk music and Mohammed Ali Street, where accordions and rhythm drive the night, are captured in Baladi we Hetta<\/em> (track 5).\u00a0 Again, communicating the intangible, Hossam describes track 6, Wahda We Bas<\/em>, as \u201cfood for the soul.\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s hard to argue with the master.\u00a0 Those torchy oud taxims flow like lava around the crisp Wahda Kebira and subtle Samaii\u2026 and so do you.\u00a0\u00a0 Lively track 7, Malfuf Ala Westi<\/em>, \u201cwrapped around my hip\u201d, is backed up by the ubiquitous accordion \u2013 which I love, just for the record.\u00a0 The final track, Roah Albi <\/em>is an exhilarating drum solo with rhythm changes and finger cymbal interplay that showcase the mastery of Ramzy\u2019s drumming.<\/p>\n

Baladi Plus is the perfect storm- incredibly useful in any setting – entrances, exits, taxims, folkloric, Baladi, drum solo\u00a0 \u2013 it\u2019s all here in one CD.\u00a0 Thanks to editing software, dancers can perform sections from this musical tapestry or use entire tracks for larger shows and teaching.\u00a0 It is the only CD I use or need for my performance class drills.\u00a0 But the best thing about Baladi Plus is the music \u2013 I can smell Egypt, all of it.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

\u00a0Rating: 4 zils<\/strong>
\n\"Zil<\/h4>\n

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 <\/p>\n

\"SablaSABLA TOLO III- Advanced Journeys into pure Egyptian Percussion
\nRhythmic\u00a0 Illusions Unveil<\/p>\n

The third installment of Ramzy\u2019s Sabla Tolo series, Sabla Tolo 3 continues his new collection of stand-alone drum solos, or rather drum songs.\u00a0 Hossam created this series for dancers, to share new rhythm compositions and to showcase percussion as a song \u2013 developing each drum song as a musical song does \u2013 with verses and repeating motifs.\u00a0 The concept and these drum songs are something different and inspiring.\u00a0 The rhythm changes and transitions are fresh, exciting, and challenging.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

In the extensive Sabla Tolo liner booklets, Hossam relates the origins of the drum solo in Raks Sharki and how it relates to the Sabla Tolo series.\u00a0 It seems that Hossam is a drum solo freak \u2013 really?\u00a0 Who knew?\u00a0 He\u2019s studied every drum solo, watched them make-or-break dance routines and pondered the possibilities of greater Egyptian percussion.\u00a0 Could it be emotional, inspirational, even musical?\u00a0 Attempting to answer these questions, Ramzy\u2019s\u00a0 Sabla Tolo series is packed with original full percussion arrangements of drum songs for Oriental dance using Egyptian and other Middle Eastern rhythms, an imaginative innovation in almost 50 years of drum solo tradition.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

In Sabla Tolo 3, Hossam introduces the concept of rhythmic illusions \u2013 and of course, he unveils it for us with the first track, Saraab Iqaay (Rhythmic Illusion)<\/em>.\u00a0 In the introduction to this piece he explains his concept of rhythmic illusion-the morphing of rhythmic motifs from one to another.\u00a0 It\u2019s going to take a bit for this dancer to absorb that both intellectually and musically.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To this ear, the dynamic transitions between the rhythms with different time signatures sound bumpy- like a glitch in the music.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

The remaining 12 tracks are not \u201cbumpy\u201d, average 4 minutes each, and also display multiple traditional rhythms transformed by Hossam\u2019s magic fingers.\u00a0 The exception is track 9, Wuh Ya Booy<\/em> is only 2 \u00bd minutes and all Saidi.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Each track is described fully in the accompanying liner booklet:\u00a0 Hossam\u2019s introduction, the song\u2019s background and its meaning to him.\u00a0 He provides a detailed breakdown in an easy-to-follow chart with transitions for each track:\u00a0 the musical score, the rhythms, time signatures, number of bars and musical notation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

All are very danceable, traverse a variety of moods and surely compliment a variety of dancers\u2019 styles.<\/p>\n

All these liner booklets, especially the Sabla Tolo 3, are amazing little resources, but it gets better.\u00a0\u00a0 The identical set of notes for this CD is available for download from his website.\u00a0 It comes in larger print for reading ease.\u00a0 Listen to the selection and follow along with the booklet.\u00a0 It is a choreographic dream and it is meant to be, saving drummer and dancer alike frustration and time.\u00a0 As always, Ramzy\u2019s introductions provide clues as to the context of the music and how \u201cwe feel it.\u201d\u00a0 <\/p>\n

This is my first look at the Sabla Tolo series and I\u2019m looking forward to the first two CDs now<\/a>.\u00a0 I like Sabla Tolo 3, despite feeling some drum songs are smoother than others.\u00a0 I particularly enjoy track 2, Serr Maktoub<\/em> and track 5, Khamsa Wa Khamsa<\/em>\u00a0 \u2013 I easily hear their\u00a0 \u201csong\u201d qualities.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Sabla Tolo 3 is a modern, exciting addition to Oriental dance.\u00a0 It has broad appeal beyond Oriental dance and a definite for any drum solo collector and for those who find little inspiration in traditional pieces.\u00a0 Dancers should heed the subtitle, Advanced Journeys into pure Egyptian Percussion, and decide appropriately as to the level suitability for performance or practice.<\/p>\n

Rating:  3 zils
\n\"3<\/h4>\n

Rhythms of the Nile and Baladi Plus are a must in any Oriental dance library.\u00a0 They are meant to be and function well as sequential and complimentary, although they easily stand alone on their merits as preparation for our third CD, Sabla Tolo III.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Sabla Tolo III: Advanced Journeys into pure Egyptian Percussion represents an innovation in Oriental dance music, a departure from the traditional percussion style of other two CDs and is not for the faint-hearted.\u00a0 Together the three present a progression of Oriental dance rhythms- from basic to complex.<\/p>\n

Resources and Purchase information<\/strong><\/p>\n

www<\/a>.<\/a>hossamramzy<\/a>.<\/a>com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n
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