NASHAZ - BRIAN PRUNKA JAZZ BAND

1. HIJAZ NASHAZ (9:33) 2, KHARTOUM (7:44) 3.ANDALUS 8:54 4.QASSABJI'S NIGHTMARE (7:13) 5.CITY OF SAND (6:36) 6.JURJINAH (9:32) 7.AL- GHAYB (8:17) 8.'AJAM(5:45) About this CD Many musicians in the Middle East be it Lebanon, or Egypt or Jordan, play jazz and oud with a westernized sound, that is so they can blend in with the western instruments like the trumpet or Sax. In this album Brian plays Arabic Oud, and the trumpet and flutes,sax follow his lead, and blend in with the Arabic sound, the bass, frame drum and Arabic tamborine (riqq) all round out this great band. I think this is one the best new Arabic Jazz CD's I have heard in 10 years, If you enjoyed Simon Shaheen's Blue Flame, or any of Rabih Abou Khalil's CD's I know you will like this one too. I have put the entire track from his new disc called Andalus enjoy. Ray Rashid

Brian Prunka (oud) Transplanted to Brooklyn from New Orleans, Brian brings together jazz adventurousness, New Orleans rhythm, and years of experience with Arabic music as an essential instrument in the band. He has performed internationally with Simon Shaheen, Michael Bates, Ravish Momin, the New York Arabic Orchestra, The Vancouver International Orchestra, Zikrayat, The Near East River Ensemble, and others. In addition to national and international events, he has performed in New York at The Stone, Tonic, the Knitting Factory, the River to River Festival, Symphony Space, Alwan for the Arts, Trinity Church, and CBGBs, among others.