CD Release
Sabla Tolo III - Advanced Journeys into Pure Egyptian Percussion
By Hossam Ramzy (ARC Music).
As submitted by: Yeow Ong, Belly Slap – drum Ensemble
Released August 2008
Total Time: 51.43 min
The best drum solo CD for belly dancers and musicians, since Sabla Tolo 2!
Hossam describes this CD as "Rhythmic illusions unveiled". It contains 13 songs, all brand new rhythmic compositions of Egyptian Tabla solos, with full percussion arrangements. Instruments joining the Tabla include the riq, doholla, congas, bongos, cowbells, sagats, toura, udo, cabassa, various frame drums, shakers and of course, the mighty triangle!
This CD is great for all styles of belly dance, but especially Oriental dance. All songs include a wide variety of Egyptian and Middle Eastern rhythms, layered with some amazing solo riffs.
The CD comes with a 44-paged booklet, translated into 4 languages (English, Spanish, French, German). In the booklet, Hossam introduces each track with a short paragraph, giving the song’s background and its meaning to him. Then there is a musical score for the song, listing in sequence, the name of rhythm, its time signature, number of bars, and musical notation for a selection of rhythms and solos in that song. The detailed breakdown is very useful for the dance choreographer and percussionist alike.
In addition, and for the first time, Hossam includes a 13 page set of notes, which can be downloaded from his website, www.hossamramzy.com. The notes contain the same musical notation for the selection of rhythms and solos in the CD booklet. These notes are in A4 size, making them in larger print and easier to read and use than the booklet.
Track Listing:
1. SARAAB IQAAY (Rhythmic Illusion) - 3:50
2. SERR MAKTOUB (Written Secret) - 4:02
3. NADY ALA ALQABAYEL (Summoning the Tribes) - 4:05
4. EL SHALLAL (The Waterfall) - 3:57
5. TAS-IFA-OMMAL? (No Clapping For Me or What?) - 4:06
6. GROOVE SANCTUARY - 4:10
7. KHAMSA W'KHMESA (The Hand of Fatma) - 4:06
8. RASTA BALADI - 3:50
9. WUH YA BOOY (Oh Father) - 2:34
10. AL FINJAL (The Coffee Cup) - 4:06
11. BOSAT EL REEH (The Magic Carpet) / MEL QAHIRA LE BAGHDAD (From Cairo to Baghdad) - 4:02
12. SERR MAKSHOOF (A Secret Exposed) - 4:17
13. REEH EL SAHARA (Desert Wind) - 4:00
Hossam was born in Cairo, Egypt, where his musical career began at the age of three, when he was given his first drum, an Egyptian Tabla.
A move to Saudi Arabia led Hossam to joining with many Bedouin tribes which gave him a rich insight into the cultural origins of Middle Eastern music. In the mid-1970's Hossam moved to England, and enjoyed great success as a Jazz drummer working with many respected Jazz musicians like Andy Sheperd and Geoff Williams. But as he began looking for new dimensions of percussive sounds, he found himself turning full circle back to his first love, the Egyptian Drums, and the thrilling dance rhythms of the Middle East. Hossam then incorporated all his rhythmic experience into creating a new sound that is heard on hundreds of the world leading albums recorded today.
The club dance scene of 2001 was taken by a storm with Hossam's No# 1 hit EDONY that has topped the dance charts worldwide.
Hossam has gone on to work with many top musicians including Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, Sting, Chick Corea, Peter Gabriel, Joan Armatrading & Mary Wilson, Yesim Salkim, Celick Erici, Cheb Khaled, Tarkan, Rachid Taha, Faudel, and The Gypsy Kings.
All of Hossam’s CDs and DVDs, including Sabla Tolo III, can be found on his website.
Yeow Ong
Bellyslap – Drum Ensemble
www.bellyslap.zoomshare.com
