You can be forgiven for not immediatley hearing the influence of Al Di Meola's fusion flamenco excursions in the music of the Palestinian brothers.  Di Meola may have been one inspiration, but the Joubrans bring a long family history to their chosen instrument, the oud, the Near Eastern ancestor of the lute and the guitar.  Le Trio Joubran's disc, originally released on Palestine's first record label, is full of soulful improvisations for oud, usually unaccompanied but with an occasional vocal.  Flamenco fans will find affinity between the Joubran's Arabic repertoire and the traditional music of Spain, steeped in the culture of a Moorish past.

--- by David Luhrssen