Raks Sharki 6: In a Beirut Mood

Album review

Belly dancing has been changing its image in the West recently, promoting itself as good aerobic exercise. But, with a long and venerated history, it is also a traditional Middle Eastern art known as raks sharki. Acclaimed American-born dancer Jalilah might not be a musician, but her name is on this disc (as it has been on previous ones in this series), albeit more for marketing than anything else. The real credit goes to Ihsan Al-Mounzer, who wrote and conducted virtually all the albums' pieces -- and he arranged the one he didn't write ("Lebanese Bouquet"). That traditional song happens to be the most interesting of the bunch, with a deliciously rich melody and strong, but subtle, rhythms. The other compositions, particularly the epic "Tales Of The Sahara" and "Al-Houriyah," attempt to compete, but they're overblown -- music made for dancing, not for listening. That's the intent of the pieces, after all, but "Lebanese Bouquet" is an object lesson in how the music can work fully on both levels. This is certainly richer, more authentic belly dancing music than most, and never less than an enjoyable experience. If you're looking for music to practice dancing, this is ideal. But if you simply want to listen to Middle Eastern music, there are plenty of better options.

© Chris Nickson /TiVo