Majaz is the sophomore album from Le Trio Joubran, an oud trio comprised of three brothers. It's an extraordinary feat of both structure and execution. "Majaz" means "metaphor", and indeed, though all but one track on the album is fully instrumental, the trio's potent use of both melody and silence make the poetic nature of the compositions quite clear.

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There's something poetic about the oud, the ancient Middle Eastern lute. There's something even more poetic about musicians who come from a family of luthiers which goes back hundreds (perhaps thousands) of years. The three Joubran Brothers are Palestinian, born in the West Bank city of Nazareth (yes, that Nazareth). Their compositions, though instrumental, are primarily inspired by Palestinian poetry, much of which (predictably) focuses on the subjects of pain and poverty, as well as faith through turmoil.

Indeed, though wordless, these ideas come across loud and clear in the hands of these three virtuosic oud players and their percussionist. The opening track "Masar" starts off sparsely and with an air of reverence, but quickly becomes a percussion-laden frenzy. The title track "Majaz" is moody and dark, and "Sama-Sounounou" is sensual and intense. The three-suite composition "Tanasim", with one suite tackled by each of the brothers in turn throughout the album, begins with an almost bluesy treatment by brother Adnan, becomes cool and reserved with brother Samir, and culminates with the highly traditional and somber style of brother Wissam. The one folk song (with vocals) on this album, "Min Zaman", though it seems slightly out of place, is a beautifully performed nod to a different aspect of Le Trio Joubran's musical tradition.

--by Megan Romer