Khartoum Blues

Album review

Along with Ali Hassan Kuban, Abdel Gadir Salim is one of the leading singers of the Nubian-Sudanese brand of pop that brings a funkier, down-to-earth flavor to the Arab (specifically Egyptian) pop sound. Le Blues de Khartoum is a very satisfying but somewhat subdued effort -- there's none of the kickin' Junior Walker-style sax playing that's been known to crop up on other Nubian pop discs -- that focuses on melody and the pleasing harmonic blend of accordion, violins, oud, and sax. "Rada Al-Qulayb" starts solo and retains the same overall feel after the full band kicks in. Gently galloping rhythms clippety-clop away over the nicely melodic, very soothing "Bitzîd Min 'Adhâbî" and "Ghannû Yâ Ikhwânî." "Jamil Al-Sourah" sports a nice melody with a simple but very catchy hook and that rhythm -- it's funny how a music born and bred in the desert sands is built on a rhythmic sensation of riding the waves. While the lengthy "Ghâba Nawmî" is a bit livelier, the key is the absence of soloing per se -- it's the melodic textures of different instruments and slight changes of focus within the ensemble playing that mark the ten-minute track. A strong riff-hook jump starts "Qidrechinna" off and rocking, but Salim isn't a shouter vocally by any stretch of the imagination -- smooth and sincere are the words that spring to mind for his singing. The sax doesn't kick much here, despite prominence in the arrangement, but then there's no flashiness in this music. It's all about melody, texture, and ensemble sound -- even on the pair of closing oud-and-vocal solo tracks, Salim remains true to that blueprint and resists any urge to toss in any showy virtuoso licks. There's nothing to criticize about Le Blues de Khartoum -- it's not exceptional in any one facet, but it's an extremely pleasant, tasteful groove to hang out with and ride along in for an hour. The sound falls close enough to the more readily available The Merdoum Kings Play Songs of Love to make that the first choice to check out, but this disc won't disappoint anyone ready for a second taste.
© Don Snowden /TiVo