The music of Egyptian born Australian based Joseph Tawadros traverses the boundaries of jazz, classical and world music, creating this seemingly effortless subdued fusion of genres and worlds. The musicianship of both himself and his quartet is nothing short of breathtaking, in which Joseph Tawadros’ oud snakes around Matt McMahon’s (Band of Five Names) jazz piano, Dimitri Vouras’ clarinet, and younger brother James Tawadros’ bedir percussion and req (a small handheld tambourine). This is the kind of exotic jazz that you’d dream of stumbling across late one night in the middle east, yet the reality is that you’re probably more likely to see them closer to home in a concert hall. This is his fifth album, with all the pieces composed by Tawadros however there is a fair degree of soloing as well as some conversational interplay between the instruments, which in the main retain a dignified, slightly subdued feel, only occasionally building up in intensity. It’s a really unique recording, lush and vibrant with a very much live feel continuing Tawadros’ desire to take the oud into new uncharted realms. He does so here, yet he does so with such confidence that it almost feels like he is merely carrying on a centuries old tradition.
Bob Baker Fish
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