A Paradise in the Hold

by Yazz Ahmed

A Paradise in the Hold cover art

On 'A Paradise in the Hold', trumpeter and composer Yazz Ahmed delves deeply into her Bahraini heritage, weaving together the sorrowful songs of pearl divers and the celebratory rhythms of traditional women's drumming circles with contemporary jazz. For the first time, Ahmed incorporates lyrics in both Arabic and English, utilizing a range of vocalists as instrumental textures alongside her own evocative trumpet and flugelhorn. The album balances intricate, large-ensemble compositions and modern production with the ancient polyrhythms and scales of the Arabian Peninsula, creating a narrative journey of cultural self-discovery.

Genres

  • Arabic Jazz

Tracklist

  1. She Stands On the Shore
  2. A Paradise In The Hold
  3. Mermaids' Tears
  4. Her Light
  5. Al Naddaha
  6. Dancing Barefoot
  7. Into The Night
  8. Though My Eyes Go To Sleep, My Heart Does Not Forget You
  9. To The Lonely Sea
  10. Waiting For The Dawn