Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Nashaz: Nashaz

Nashaz: Nashaz

By Eyal Hareuveni
October 15, 2013
View read count

Nashaz was founded by jazz guitarist

Brian Prunka

oud
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Brian Prunka after a few chance incidents led him to explore the great pantheon of Arabic music. These meetings made Prunka travel long and winding roads. Geographically, from his hometown, New Orleans, to Brooklyn (where he studied with Palestinian oud master Simon Shaeen and his brother Najib; and to Ramallah in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and back again. Musically, he followed a similar trajectory, from jazz to Arabic music and back again.

After studying the oud, often called 'the king of all instruments,' and Arabic music—its heritage, the scales, maqams, rhythms, and manners of improvisation and ornamentation—Prunka founded Nashaz. In this group he attempts to find a balance between jazz and Arabic music-based compositions and improvisations and, to position the oud as a leading instrument in a jazz outfit.

The outcome on Nashaz's debut is mixed. It is clear that Prunka is well-versed in the Arabic scales, and has become a proficient oud player. But unlike other oud players—

Rabih Abou-Khalil

oud
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Rabih Abou-Khalil, who introduces surprising arrangements and instrumentation, spiced with healthy doses of humor;

Anouar Brahem

oud
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Anouar Brahem and

Rahim Alhaj

oud

" data-original-title="" title="">Rahim Alhaj, both gifted with personal, poetic language; or even

Gordon Grdina

oud
b.1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Gordon Grdina, who dared to offer adventurous interpretations to Arabic music (with his

Kyle Sharamitaro

" data-original-title="" title="">Kyle Sharamitaro band on Her Eyes Illuminate, (Songlines, 2012)—Prunka sound like one who respects both great musical traditions too much to stamp his own mark. Often, his composition, though nuanced, detailed and elegant, sound as though they lack elements of intensity, urgency or even surprise.

Still, Prunka's arrangements still offer rare a equilibrium, where Prunka on the oud,

Kenny Warren

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Warren on the trumpet and

Nathan Herrera

" data-original-title="" title="">Nathan Herrera on the alto sax play as equal partners in a patient and emphatic atmosphere. The cinematic "Andalus" suggests a beautiful, quiet soundscape, and Prunka shines as a storyteller. The heartfelt dedication to the the great Egyptian composer Mohamad el-Qassabji (who composed many songs for the great singer Oum Kulthum), "Qassabji's Nightmare," playfully Ellingtonian elements and the innovative compositional ideas of Qassabji himself. The upbeat and jovial "'Ajam" leaves more room for all the band to improvise joyfully on a simple Arabic scale. Nashaz is an interesting and promising debut.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Hijaz Nashaz; Khartoum; Andalus; Qassabji's Nightmare; City of Sand; Jurjina; Al-Ghayb; 'Ajam.

Personnel

Nashaz

oud

Brian Prunka: oud; Kenny Warren: trumpet; Nathan Herrera: alto sax, bass clarinet, alto flute; Apostolos Sideris: bass; George Mel: frame drum, udu drum, cajon, pandeiro, miscellaneous percussion; Vin Scialla: riq.

Album information

Title: Nashaz | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Self Produced

PREVIOUS / NEXT

September
< Previous

Roots
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.