Anouar Brahem: La pas du chat noir

By GRAHAM REID

(Herald rating: * * *)

When ECM first recorded Tunis-born Brahem 12 years ago the Arabian lute, the oud, wasn't as commonly heard as it is today. Maybe we have Plant'n'Page and Temple of Sound as much as world music guys like Yair Dalal, who played at Auckland's '99 Womad, to thank for that. Brahem has previously collaborated with ECM saxophonists Garbarek and John Surman and bassist Dave Holland, but here is with pianist Francois Couturier and accordionist Jean-Louis Matinier for a collection of quiet, slightly melancholy and mesmerising melodies which are somewhere between chamber music and reflective jazz in a deserted wine bar in Tunis' ville nouvelle. In places a little melodically anorexic, but the deep timbre and gentle chime of the oud - here given ample space in the production and on tunes where duets are almost as common as the three instruments together - make this exotic association of west and east something very special.


Label: ECM