Dhafer Youssef: Street of Minarets
Author: Jane Cornwell
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Musicians: |
Vinnie Colaiuta (d) |
Label: |
Back Beat Edition |
Magazine Review Date: |
April/2023 |
Media Format: |
CD |
Catalogue Number: |
BBE01 |
RecordDate: |
Rec. 2016, 2020 |
The tenth album from Tunisian vocalist and oud player Dhafer Youssef harks back to his stunning Electric Sufi, a 2001 work that – aided by classical Indian flute and drumming by Living Colour's Will Cahoun – explored the possibilities in melding spiritual jazz and ambient electronics with Sufi mysticism.
The music of the latter takes several forms (pentatonic Moroccan Gnawa music, devotional Pakistani qawwali singing, the chanted poetry of Tunisia's Hadhra rituals), much of it rooted in healing-oriented trance, and Youssef has proceeded to fold a range of genres into its divine embrace on compositions sometimes showboaty, other times strafed with genius. That the likes of Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller and Ambrose Akinmusire signed up before Youssef had even completed these 12 tracks is testament to his reputation. Their faith is amply rewarded: lead single ‘Ondes of Chakras’ is a gorgeous swirl of woodwind, strings and percussion, spacious enough to invigorate and replenish. Two sets of suites - the two-track ‘SharQ’, the three-part ‘Omar Khayyam’ – develop leitmotifs by adding layers, opening the groove and following the funk; highlights within these highlights include Miller's bass guitar vying with Chaurasia's Indian bamboo flute; ‘Flying Dervish Outro’, an unaccompanied oud piece, and throughout, Youssef's spine-tingling, melisma-laced vocalese.

Jazzwise Full Club
- Latest print and digital issues
- Digital archive since 1997
- Download tracks from bonus compilation albums throughout the year
- Reviews Database access
From £9.08 / month
Subscribe
Jazzwise Digital Club
- Latest digital issues
- Digital archive since 1997
- Download tracks from bonus compilation albums during the year
- Reviews Database access