Ibrahim Maalouf: Illusions

Rating: ★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Ronnie Smith (p, arr)
Chris Karan (d, perc)
Darren Dutson Bromley (g)
Tina May (v)
Peter Cater (d)
Michael Edmonds (el b)
Bosco de Oliveira (perc)
Andrew Cleyndert (b)
Patrick Bettison (b, hca)
Alan Barnes (as, bar s)
Jim Hart (d, vib, perc, mar)
George Hart (d)
The London String Orchestra (cond)
Richard Niles (cond)
Paul Clarvis (d, perc)

November/2014

Catalogue Number:

RSP001

RecordDate:

date not stated

Five albums into his recording career, things seem to be progressing nicely for Beirut-born, Paris-based trumpeter/composer Ibrahim Maalouf. The press release says he's the highest-selling French instrumentalist of the past three years. I really enjoyed his last outing, Wind, which drew explicitly on Miles Davis' Ascenseur pour l'Echaffaud soundtrack, offsetting the noir-ish ambience with fresh Middle Eastern colours courtesy of Maalouf's deployment of a quartertone trumpet. I like this new one, Illusions, too, which pushes more in the direction of funk-rock fusion. It's is a concept album. As the lengthy liner notes explains: ‘This album starts with the most tragic view of the world: cynicism. It then gradually evolves towards light and hope.’ Whether you're interested in the underlying musical story or not, the band make a compelling sound, and when, on the likes of ‘Unfaithful’, the trumpeters all line up and François Delporte starts thrashing away at his six-string, they make a big, dynamic sound that could light up a very big stage indeed.

Follow us

Jazzwise Print

  • Latest print issues

From £5.83 / month

Subscribe

Jazzwise Digital Club

  • Latest digital issues
  • Digital archive since 1997
  • Download tracks from bonus compilation albums during the year
  • Reviews Database access

From £7.42 / month

Subscribe

Subscribe from only £5.83

Never miss an issue of the UK's biggest selling jazz magazine.

Subscribe

View the Current
Issue

Take a peek inside the latest issue of Jazzwise magazine.

Find out more