East Meets West

by Ahmed Abdul-Malik

East Meets West cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: 1960
  • Label: RCA Victor
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 34:02
  • Community rating: 4.55/5 from 5 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

A pioneering album from bassist and oudist Ahmed Abdul-Malik, this session is a landmark in the fusion of jazz with Middle Eastern and North African music. The album showcases his unique ability to blend the improvisational language of hard bop with traditional instruments, scales, and rhythms, creating a sound that was years ahead of its time. It's a key document in the early history of 'world music.'

Genres

Descriptors: acoustic, instrumental, cultural identity, traditional, spacious

Tracklist

  1. El-lail (The Night) (4:20)
  2. La Ibky (Don't Cry) (4:57)
  3. Takseem (Solo) (5:12)
  4. Searchin' (4:04)
  5. Isma'a (Listen) (9:12)
  6. Rooh (The Soul) (3:44)
  7. Mahawara (The Fugue) (4:15)
  8. El Ghada (The Jungle) (3:08)

Credits

  • Ahmed Abdul-Malik - surbahar, oud
  • Lee Morgan - trumpet
  • Curtis Fuller - trombone
  • Jerome Richardson - flute
  • Benny Golson - tenor saxophone
  • Johnny Griffin - tenor saxophone
  • Naim Karacand - violin
  • Ahmed Yetman - kanoon
  • Al Harewood - drums
  • Bilal Abdurraham - darabeka
  • Mike Hemway - darabeka
  • Jakarawan Nasseur - vocals

More from Ahmed Abdul-Malik: full discography